La Liga round-up: Valencia thrash Sevilla, continue Barcelona chase
Saturday 21 October 2017 20:25, UK
Valencia kept the pressure on La Liga leaders Barcelona by thrashing last season's pretenders Sevilla 4-0 at the Mestalla.
While Valencia lumbered towards a distant 12th-placed finish in 2016-17, Sevilla were busy upsetting Barca and the Madrid clubs, eventually settling for fourth under Jorge Sampaoli.
But Los Che now appear to have found their own managerial saviour, with Marcelino recording a fifth straight win while his team remain unbeaten in the league.
Following up their 6-3 triumph at Real Betis last time out, Valencia struck first through Goncalo Guedes in the 43rd minute, the Portuguese cutting inside before finding the target.
Sevilla, who slip to a still-encouraging sixth in the standings, were hit again when Simone Zaza returned from his half-time break to double Valencia's lead with a left-footed shot.
It was a seventh goal in five games for the Italian striker, who previously endured a disappointing loan at West Ham after making headlines with his terrible penalty attempt at Euro 2016.
With five minutes remaining Valencia compounded Sevilla's misery. Santi Mina plundered a substitute's goal, Guedes providing the assist before completing his brace in stoppage time.
Elsewhere, Real Betis climbed to fifth following a 2-0 home victory over Alaves.
In the 13th minute Antonio Barragan picked out Antonio Sanabria, who continued his hot streak with the sixth goal of a run that started four matches ago with a winner at Real Madrid.
Deep into the second half, visiting defender Alexis turned the ball into his own net to confirm an eighth defeat of the season for 19th-placed Alaves.
Promoted Getafe were denied a win as Jose Luis Morales struck to earn Levante a share of the points from a 1-1 draw at the Ciudad de Valencia.
Following a frantically contested but goalless first half, Faycal Fajr converted a Juan Cala shot that had clattered a post following a Getafe corner in the 58th minute.
But only three minutes later mid-table Levante restored parity as Morales stroked home following good work from substitute Enis Bardhi and former Aston Villa defender Antonio Luna.
