Valencia, Spain (My Sportsbook) - Juan Mata and Pablo Hernandez scored in the second half as Valencia opened its La Liga campaign with a 2-0 win over 10-man Sevilla on Sunday at the Estadio Mestalla. Valencia and Sevilla were scoreless in the closing seconds of the opening half when Fredic Kanoute was sent off for his second bookable offense. Mata opened the scoring two minutes after the break against the short-handed visitors, and Hernandez sealed the win in the 80th. Valencia wasted no time taking advantage of Kanoute's exit. Ever Banega and Mata converged on the ball two minutes into the half, with Mata in first to drilled a left-footed shot past Sevilla goalie Andres Palop. Valencia continued to control the match, and the clincher finally came off a counter in the 80th. Banega avoided a few Sevilla players and then delivered a pass to Hernandez, who finished the play by beating Palop. Roberto Soldado scored three goals to lead Getafe to a 4-1 win over Racing and into the top spot in La Liga. Malaga got a first-half goal from Nabil Baha in a convincing 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid to join the clan of seven winners on opening weekend. Aritz Aduriz and Tuni scored as Mallorca opened with a 2-0 win over nine-man Xerez, and Gaizka Toquero scored to lead Athletic Bilbao to a 1-0 win against Espanyol. Santi Cazorla scored in Villarreal's 1-1 draw with Osasuna, and Valladolid got a 0-0 draw with Almeria on the road despite playing down a man for the last 80 minutes. On Monday, defending La Liga and Champions League champion Barcelona opens at home against Sporting Gijon. |
