Valencia and Sevilla complete Copa del Rey semi-final line-up
Friday 29 January 2016 06:56, UK
Valencia reached the Copa del Rey semi-finals after a Rodrigo strike gave them a morale-boosting 1-0 second-leg victory away to Las Palmas and a 2-1 aggregate win on Thursday.
Valencia are yet to win in seven La Liga matches under coach Gary Neville and lie 11th in the Primera Division, but the chance of silverware will ease some of the tension surrounding the Mestalla.
The game was always in the balance but Valencia worked hard defensively and had the better chances to score with Rodrigo slotting home in front of goal 20 minutes into a hard-fought encounter.
La Liga Football
Sevilla eased into the last four after a Vicente Iborra penalty helped them on their way to a 3-0 second-leg win over second-tier Mirandes and a 5-0 aggregate success.
Sevilla were firmly in charge from the start and went ahead after Sebastian Cristoforo was upended by Ion Velez, Iborra sent keeper Raul Fernandez the wrong way with his spot-kick after nine minutes.
Mirandes caused little danger and Sevilla could have added to their lead but Yevhen Konoplyanka fired over and Vitolo had a shot beaten away by Fernandez in the first half.
They sealed the win after the break when 20-year-old Juan Munoz finished clinically after 70 minutes from a Vitolo pass and Coke headed home the third goal in stoppage time.
Sevilla have clicked into gear after a slow start to the season and have suffered just one defeat in 16 games in all competitions, moving them up to seventh in La Liga.
Live La Liga Football
Holders Barcelona reached the semi-finals on Wednesday after knocking out Athletic Bilbao, while Real Madrid were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player in an earlier round.
Celta Vigo completed the semi-final line-up with a 3-2 aggregate success against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
