Negredo snatches three vital points for Valencia

Valencia in charge

It was a closely contested start to the game, with both sides coming out looking switched-on. However, as the minutes went by, Valencia CF began to totally boss proceedings, with Santi Mina particularly lively and dangerous going forward.

Parejo's dead-ball prowess

A flurry of chances ensued in the Sevilla FC box and Sergio Rico had to pull out all the stops to keep his team on level pegging. Mina and Dani Parejo had and spurned the best openings, but Parejo was to make amends by breaking the deadlock. The central midfielder's right-footed free-kick curled into the net to open the scoring, albeit taking a nick off an opposition defender on its way.

Sevilla fight back

Unai Emery's men returned to the field reinvigorated after the restart. While in the first half the hosts hardly allowed the visitors a sniff, it was a different kettle of fish in the second period. The Andalusians pressed relentlessly and had a number of clear-cut opportunities to restore parity. The most gilt-edged of these fell to Ever Banega following a break launched by Kevin Gameiro, but Diego Alves came out on top between the sticks.

Gameiro does it himself

Emery's charges finally gained their reward for their second-half efforts with not long left on the clock. Michael Krohn-Dehli threaded a pass into space and that man Gameiro smashed home a first-time strike, taking his LaLiga tally for the season to 15.

Grandstand finish

There was to be another twist in the tale in stoppage time. Just minutes after Gameiro's equaliser, Negredo touched home to seal Valencia's first victory under Pako Ayestaran and hand his side three crucial points that lift them further away from the relegation zone. Parejo turned provider on this occasion, floating in a cross that Negredo latched on to after a bit of pinball, the striker beating Rico to give the Mestalla faithful a Hollywood ending.