Valencia leapfrogged Rangers into second place in Champions League Group C after a comfortable 3-0 win.
Three and easy for Spaniards who take over in second place
Valencia leapfrogged Rangers into second place in UEFA Champions League Group C after a comfortable 3-0 victory over the Scots in the Mestalla.
Steven Naismith struck the post twice but Walter Smith's men were comprehensively outplayed for the entire 90 minutes in their first defeat of the season.
Roberto Soldado was the goal hero, netting either side of half-time to put the hosts in control before substitute Tino Costa added the third in injury-time.
The result leaves the Scottish champions third in the table after four games and they will be hoping for a favour from leaders Manchester United in the remaining fixtures.
After initially struggling with a calf injury, Maurice Edu was passed fit to play meaning Smith named the same side which drew 0-0 at Old Trafford earlier in the competition.
Valencia, who had failed to score in each of their last three Champions League games at the Mestalla, started the brighter and Juan Mata tested Allan McGregor with a near post volley, which the Scot turned wide.
Two minutes later the Rangers keeper was forced to work again as Ever Banega shrugged off the challenge of Lee McCulloch before unleashing a powerful drive on target, but McGregor got his full body behind it.
For all Valencia's early pressure, it was the visitors who went closest to taking the lead as Naismith collected on the left flank and cut inside onto his right foot before crashing an effort against the post.
The effort appeared to take a nick off Valencia defender Ricardo Costa, but nonetheless offered the hosts something to think about as Rangers set out to threaten on the counter.
Spectacular
McGregor continued to deny the Spaniards early on and he did so in spectacular fashion on 12 minutes, diving at full stretch to keep out Mata, who had been teed up by Aritz Aduriz inside the penalty area.
The Scottish champions began to frustrate the hosts with 10 men behind the ball and it looked increasingly likely that Los Che would require a set-play to break down their opponents.
Aduriz almost provided it from Mata's set-piece delivery after 22 minutes, but he could only steer his near-post header wide of the target after losing his marker Edu.
Smith's men stuck to their game plan of threatening on the break and Steven Whittaker reminded Valencia of their presence as he skipped down the right before earning a corner from his pull-back.
Nothing came of the set-piece and moments later it was a Valencia corner which provided the opening goal on 34 minutes. Mata whipped in from the right and the Rangers defence failed to deal with it.
The ball dropped kindly for Soldado, who spied a narrow gap at the near post, and he duly exploited it by squeezing in a low effort, with Sasa Papac unable to prevent it from finding its way through.
It was a lead the Spaniards were well worthy of and set Unai Emery's side on their way to their ninth victory in 10 games at home to Scottish opposition.
It was all Valencia once again at the beginning of the restart with Joaquin pulling the strings, but he could not find a team-mate with an inviting, outside-of-the-foot cross after exchanging a one-two with Banega.
McGregor had to be at his best soon after, though, diving at full stretch to his left to deny a glancing header from Aduriz 10 minutes into the second half.
The hosts had the Scots rattled and continued to up the tempo in a bid to take full control as they streamed forward with wave after wave of attacks.
Impressive
Valencia were leaving themselves open at the back, however, and Kenny Miller perhaps should have done better when he was teed up inside the area by the impressive Naismith shortly before the hour mark.
Joaquin's corners were causing problems for Rangers and they had McGregor to thank for keeping the score down once more on 63 minutes, as he tipped over a vicious delivery from the former Spain international.
It took until the 65th minute for German referee Felix Brych to brandish a card and it went to David Albelda for his foul on Kirk Broadfoot.
Five minutes later and the hosts finally got their second and once again it was the in-form Soldado who applied the finish.
A neat one-two with Mata released the 25-year-old through on goal and he fizzed a low shot across the face of goal and past McGregor, who could not get a strong enough hand on it, for his third goal in four Champions League games.
Former Everton man Manuel Fernandes replaced the goal hero soon after and he left the field to a rapturous reception from the Mestalla faithful.
Naismith, Rangers' best out-field player on the night, struck the woodwork once again on 82 minutes with a textbook header.
Valencia keeper Cesar Sanchez dived on the rebound only to comically spill it, but no Gers player had gambled with a run forward and the Spanish defence easily mopped up his error.
Rangers introduced Kyle Lafferty late on but found themselves three down shortly after as the hosts wrapped up the scoring in injury-time.
Portuguese full-back Miguel picked out the back-post run of substitute Tino Costa, who met it with an aerial volley which sneaked in off the upright to seal Rangers' misery.
| Valencia |
Team Statistics |
Rangers |
| 3 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 13 |
Shots on Target |
1 |
| 8 |
Shots off Target |
2 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 11 |
Corners |
3 |
| 10 |
Fouls |
10 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
0 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 88 |
Passing Success |
74.9 |
| 22 |
Tackles |
20 |
| 77.3 |
Tackles Success |
65 |
| 67.1 |
Possession |
32.9 |
| 59.3 |
Territorial Advantage |
40.7 |
|
