Despite arriving wounded from a heavy Copa del Rey defeat to Barcelona in the week, there was hope in the air at Valencia’s famous home with new coach Carlos Corberan overseeing an upturn in LaLiga form.
Few in the stadium will have doubted the importance of this clash, with the visitors sitting perilously over the relegation places that Valencia occupy, and the home faithful must have been holding their breath as Leganes made a fast start, though they did little to test Liverpool-bound goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
A delicious pirouette from Leganes’ number 10 Dani Raba displayed his side’s confidence against a former LaLiga giant, but they fell behind in controversial fashion after the referee had accidentally blocked the ball.
A quick restart from the official allowed a sharp Valencia to pounce and Cristhian Mosquera wasn’t waiting around as he dispatched a bouncing cross past Marko Dmitrovic for a first league goal for his side.
With Leganes wobbling in the minutes before the break, Valencia took control of the game after Mosquera’s defensive colleague Mouctar Diakhaby doubled Valencia’s lead from inside the area after some suspect defensive work by Leganes.
The visitors returned after the break determined to find their way back into the contest, but searching for three straight home victories for the first time in a year, Valencia held firm.
Leganes hadn’t lost any of their last four away league games but they struggled to lay a glove on Valencia, who popped the ball around midfield with all the confidence of a side with a two-goal advantage.
An injury to goalscoring Diakhaby saw him removed at the hour mark, but that did little to deter a side who threatened for a third goal through their superior height on set pieces.
In truth, this was one of a spirited Valencia’s best performances of the season, with Mamardashvili impressive when denying a well-taken free-kick late on to ensure there wouldn’t be a late scare.
Los Ches appear to be making their home a fortress at exactly the right time if they’re to survive a demotion that would shake the Spanish top-flight.
Flashcore Man of the Match: Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia)
