CARL HITS BAC OF NET

VILLARREAL’S Yellow Submarine sunk Valencia at the Mestalla.

Carlos Bacca’s 24th-minute goal gave the visitors victory and denied Valencia the chance to reduce Barca’s lead at the top of La Liga.

The defeat was Valencia’s first at home this season and saw them miss the chance to overtake Atletico Madrid.

Valencia’s Simone Zaza was sent off for two yellow cards in three second-half minutes. Manu Trigueros was then dismissed for two bookable offences as the visitors also finished the match with 10 men.

Valencia started brightly and had the first clear chance when Zaza’s longrange shot was comfortably saved by Sergio Asenjo.

But Villarreal gradually began to take command. Pablo Fornals was denied by Neto before the visitors took the lead.

Samu Castillejo and Fornals exchanged passes before the latter played a brilliant ball into space for Bacca (right) to fire home.

Valencia came close to equalising soon after the break but Zaza’s shot was spectacuarly pushed away by Asenjo.

Then on the hour, Gabriel hit the crossbar from a corner kick.

Valencia’s chances were hit when Zaza got his second yellow for a foul on Cerdic Bakambu. But they still piled forward in search of the equaliser.

Trigueros’ dismissal gave the home side added hope, but Villarreal held on.