Valencia thrash Granada to reclaim fourth spot

The final fixture of Liga BBVA matchday 33 saw Valencia CF beat Granada CF 4-0 in a clash that the hosts settled inside the first half. The result leaves Nuno Espirito Santo’s men in fourth position on 68 points, while Abel Resino’s side are 19th with 25 points and remain in a critical situation.

In the initial stages of the first half, the Andalusians proved strong at the back and chances were few and far between. However, as the minutes passed Valencia began to create danger around their opponents’ box. The first warning came on 21 minutes through Dani Parejo, whose shot from close to the penalty spot flew just wide after Antonio Barragán had centred. Just five minutes later, the game’s opener arrived as a corner for the home team was headed in by Javi Fuego. The goal saw Granada’s defensive resistance broken down and, after 37 minutes, a penalty won by Barragán saw Parejo convert for Valencia’s second.

Los valencianistas remained comfortable as the second half got underway. Granada’s first opportunity came on 56 minutes courtesy of a Fran Rico free-kick sent over Diego Alves’ crossbar, and five minutes later Valencia responded with an excellent counter-attack culminating in a Rodrigo Moreno drive inside the area that was parried by Roberto Fernández. In the closing stages, Sofiane Feghouli made it 3-0 after linking up well with Álvaro Negredo and producing a terrific strike from outside of the area. And there was still time for number four just before the final whistle, as Negredo nodded in a Rodrigo De Paul cross to round off a resounding win that sees Valencia leapfrog Sevilla FC back into fourth place.