A Real joy for Valencia
Marcelino’s men move above champions after Alaves win
MADRID: Rodrigo and Simone Zaza scored for Valencia in a 3-1 win over Alaves that lifted them above defending champions Real Madrid and into third place in La Liga.
Italy international Zaza teed up Rodrigo to open the scoring on 19 minutes at the Mestalla on Saturday as the latter found the net for the fourth time in three games.
Zaza doubled the advantage just past the half hour when he bundled in a cross for his 12th goal of the season, but Ruben Sobrino cut the deficit for Alaves early in the second half.
An own goal from centreback Victor Laguardia on 54 minutes sealed a sixth league win in seven for Marcelino’s Valencia.
“The team played well, an extraordinary first half, then the goal just as the second half began gave us some doubts in defence, but we recovered quickly with the third,” said Marcelino.
Real Betis climbed to within a point of a potential Europa League spot with a 3-0 home win over Espanyol, while Getafe are one point further back after coming from behind to claim a 2-1 victory at Real Sociedad. Deportivo Coruna and Las Palmas remain mired in deep trouble in the relegation zone following a 1-1 draw.
Former Barcelona starlet Alen Halilovic fired Las Palmas ahead after just three minutes in northwest Spain, but hosts Deportivo levelled through Raul Albentosa.
The result favoured neither side with Deportivo’s winless run stretching to 14 matches and leaving them seven points from safety, while Las Palmas are six points adrift of 17th-placed Levante.