Valencia cruise up to joint fourth in La Liga

MADRID - Valencia cruised up to joint fourth in La Liga with an impressive 3-0 win away to Almeria, with second-half goals from Spain strikers David Villa, Pablo Hernandez and Juan Mata.

As expected, Valencia Sunday soaked up the Almeria pressure used their pace to hit the tiring hosts on the break in the second half.

In the 54th minute Pablo escaped down the left and centred for Villa to make it 1-0 with a precise header. Villa is league top scorer with seven goals.

Things went from bad to worse for Almeria 10 minutes later, when goalkeeper Diego Alves was sent off for handling outside his area. And in the 74th minute Pablo made it 2-0 with an audacious long-range lob.

Mata completed the rout three minutes from time after taking a pass from veteran Ruben Baraja.

“We needed to win today,” said a delighted Pablo, “in order to stay close to the top, and I always thought that we would do so.”

Valencia now have 15 points from eight games, the same as Deportivo Coruna, who crashed 4-0 in Valladolid earlier Sunday.

Valencia and Deportivo are one point behind third-placed Sevilla, who were held to a 0-0 draw on Saturday by Espanyol.

Sevilla, in their turn, are three points behind joint leaders Barcelona and Real Madrid. Barca are at home to Zaragoza in Sunday’s late game, Real were held 0-0 by Sporting Gijon Saturday.

Valladolid’s hero against Deportivo was the promising Nauzet Aleman, who scored the first two goals.

Valladolid’s other goals were handsome late strikes from Diego Costa and Haris Medunjanin.

“They were far superior to us today,” said Deportivo veteran Juan Carlos Valeron.

“We were ponderous in attack,” the 2002 World Cup playmaker said, “and hesitant in defence.”

Villarreal, meanwhile, moved off the bottom of the table with their first win, 2-1 at home to Malaga, with goals from Brazilian Nilmar - his first in Spain - and Marcos Senna.

Malaga are now bottom with just four points. Then, on five, come Xerez, who lost 1-0 away to Tenerife. Then come Villarreal on six and troubled Atletico Madrid - who were held 1-1 by Mallorca Saturday - on seven.

Also on seven are Racing Santander, who battled out a late 1-1 draw at home to Osasuna.

Sunday’s other early game was a 2-0 home win for Getafe over Athletic Bilbao, on goals from Real Madrid rejects Roberto Soldado and Dani Parejo.