Levante 1 - Valencia 5

Levante: Manolo Reina; Descarga (Manolo Gaspar 78'), Robusté, Armando, Rubiales; José Serrano, Javi Fuego; Juanma (Pedro León 62'), Riga (Saúl 83'), Courtois; Geijo. 4-2-3-1.
Valencia: Hildebrand; Miguel, Raúl Albiol, Iván Helguera, Alexis; Albelda (Marchena 76'), Baraja; Arizmendi, Angulo, Mata (Banega 76'); David Villa (Zigic 70'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Levante: Descarga, Courtois, Geijo for Manolo Gaspar, Saúl, Iborra / Valencia: Albelda, Arizmendi, Angulo, Mata for Marchena, Joaquín, David Silva, Vicente.

Goals:
0-1. 13. David Villa. Fired long free kick over wall and in to far top corner of net.
0-2. 29. David Villa. Beat Reina at second attempt after keeper stopped first shot.
1-2. 31. José Serrano. Struck long shot past wall following short free kick.
1-3. 34. Mata. Steered shot into empty net after Villa passed across on breakaway.
1-4. 65. Angulo. Following up after Reina blocked first shot from Villa.
1-5. 66. David Villa. Ran on to long ball out of midfield and shot wide of keeper.

Valencia are safe at last after a resounding 1-5 win at city neighbours Levante, whose financial plight was supported by protests in all the grounds this weekend. David Villa was the star of the match on a waterlogged pitch, scoring a hat-trick and having a hand in the other two goals. The Spanish international striker got the first with a well struck free kick, and added a second on the half hour mark after picking up the ball from Baraja and beating Reina at the second attempt.

José Serrano got one back two minutes later from a set piece free kick, his shot taking a deflection off the defensive wall to wrong-foot Hildebrand. But Villa appeared again to set up Mata and Angulo either side of half time, and then round things off a minute later with his own third of the night. Voro had saved Valencia, but their neighbours face an uncertain future, and the players have announced an indefinite strike as from next week which means they may not turn up to play Real Madrid next weekend.