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Sunday 19 October 2008

Valencia 4-0 Numancia

Valencia opened up a two-point gap at the top of the Primera Liga following a 4-0 victory over struggling Numancia at the Mestalla on Sunday.

An early goal from David Villa put the hosts firmly in control and, though the Soria-based outfit held back the floodgates for more than an hour, late strikes from Juan Mata, Vicente and a second for Villa applied the gloss to an easy afternoon's work for Unai Emery's men.

Numancia came into the game without a win in five but they started positively by winning a corner inside the opening minute and creating the game's first chance.

Txomin Nagore met Jose Barkero's centre on the half-volley and the ball would have hit the back of the net had Raul Albiol not managed to block it.

However, that was as good as it got for the visitors because within four minutes the hosts were ahead and cruising.

Villa, fresh from scoring a last-gasp midweek winner for Spain in Belgium, tried his luck with a ferocious shot from distance.

The ball ricocheted off a defender and into the face of Fernando Morientes, rolling kindly back into Villa's path and he effortlessly slotted home from 12 yards.

Morientes was left grounded while the rest of his colleagues celebrated but there was no harm done and he was able to continue moments after play had restarted.

For Valencia, it was a lucky break that allowed them to relax and enjoy their football as they spent the remainder of the first half creating numerous half-chances without ever really getting out of second gear.

Portugal full-back Miguel was particularly keen to get his name on the scoresheet, bursting into the box on three occasions but firing high and wide each time.

It should have been 2-0 midway through the half when Villa sprung the offside trap and fired home following some neat build-up play from Joaquin and Mata but the linesman raised his flag, much to the annoyance of the striker who it seemed had timed his run to perfection.

For half-an-hour either side of the break, the visitors did give Brito Renan plenty to do in the Los Che goal but the Brazilian keeper was never really called upon to make anything other than routine saves.

If nerves were beginning to creep into Valencia's game while the teams were still only separated by one goal, they were dispelled on 72 minutes when Mata prodded home a gift from Cesar Palacios.

A slide-rule pass from Villa seemed harmless enough but the defender's desperate lunge merely directed the ball into the Mata's path and he made no mistake with an instant finish beyond the despairing Juan Pablo.

The visitors lost all of their resolve from that moment and they were soon made to pay as Vicente smashed home a third at the back post on 83 minutes.

Villa then completed the scoring in the dying moments by hooking home a through ball from Manuel Fernandes with Juan Pablo stranded off his line.

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