Valencia hold onto fourth place

Valencia CF were able to see off Getafe CF 1-0 in the first of Sunday’s Liga BBVA matchday 23 encounters. Thanks to an Álvaro Negredo goal from the penalty spot, Los Che picked up three vital points that keep them in fourth position; the Madrid outfit, meanwhile, provisionally remain in 14th place.

Valencia controlled the play and took the initiative from the beginning of the game, prowling into the final third of the pitch on numerous occasions. However, Nuno Espiríto Santo’s men were unable to put the Getafe defence under too much pressure, with the away side looking solid at the back and well organised throughout the first half. A headed Negredo effort from a corner kick, just three minutes before the break, was the home side’s best chance.

Valencia stuck to their guns in the second half and continued to persistently search for a goal. They came close to scoring a few times, first through another Negredo header, which was kept out by goalkeeper Jonathan López, and then through a long-distance strike from Enzo Pérez. The home team’s perseverance eventually paid off in the 71st minute, when Negredo capped off his great performance to make it 1-0 from the penalty spot.