First Division - Day 18

Valencia 2 - Espanyol 1

Valencia: Diego Alves; Montoya, Garay, Aderlan Santos (Mario Suárez 89’), Gayà; Carlos Soler, Enzo Pérez, Dani Parejo; Munir (Cancelo 67’), Santi Mina (Bakkali 93’), Nani. 4-3-3.
Espanyol: Diego López; Diego Reyes, David López, Oscar Duarte, Aarón Martín; Javi Fuego, Salva Sevilla (Reyes 69‘); Alvaro Vázquez (Melendo 54’), Jurado, Hernán Pérez; Gerard Moreno. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 17. Montoya. Connected with Nani square pass to turn shot past Diego López.
2-0. 73. Santi Mina. Headed ball back in to net after keeper saved Parejo free kick.
2-1. 85. David López. Hooked ball in after Alves pushed Moreno header on to bar.

Yellow cards: Carlos Soler 54’, Dani Parejo 56’, Gayà 57’, Munir 59’, Diego Alves 75’.

Valencia moved four points clear of the drop zone after a 2-1 win against Espanyol in the Sunday mid-day kick off, their first league victory in three months. David López had to clear off the line from Carlos Soler before Montoya gave the Ches the lead following a good team move with just over a quarter of an hour gone. With twenty minutes to go Santi Mina headed a second on the follow up after Diego López had pushed out an effort from Dani Parejo, the strike putting to rest any debate about whether the ball had crossed the line before Diego got it away, and although David López got one back after Diego Alves pushed a Gerard Moreno header against the bar, the goal came too late to change the result.