Soldado shines again as Valencia defeat Almeria

Spanish international forward Roberto Soldado made it four goals in five days as Valencia defeated Almeria 2-1 at the Mestalla Stadium on Sunday to close to within a point of fourth-placed Espanyol in the Spanish first division.

Soldado netted twice in Valencia’s 6-1 Champions League win over Bursaspor on Wednesday and followed that up with another brace as Valencia heaped more misery on second from bottom Almeria.

Former Real Madrid striker Soldado opened the scoring on 26 minutes, taking advantage of an unintentional piece of control with his head but the second goal on 57 minutes was a work of art.

Aritz Aduriz cut a cross back from the right and Juan Mata produced a delightful flick to Soldado, who finished with aplomb to cap a fine team goal.

It was a losing start for new Almeria coach Jose Luis Oltra who took over from Juanma Lillo after Almeria’s humiliating 8-0 loss against Barcelona last weekend.

Valencia are now a point off the top four but must now brace themselves for two testing away fixtures at Real Madrid in the league and then at Manchester United in the Champions League.

Earlier Real Mallorca kept up their push for European football moving into the top six with a 2-0 home win over strugglers Malaga on Sunday.

Mallorca followed up last weekend’s impressive 2-1 win at Sevilla with another three points as two goals in four minutes clinched victory.

Cameroon striker Pierro Webo opened the scoring on 50 minutes and Chori Castro doubled the lead four minutes later to kill off the game as Mallorca moved three points behind Valencia in sixth.

“At this stage the most important thing is having 21 points which relaxes us because of course it is easier to play when you are far away from the teams at the bottom,” said Mallorca coach Michael Laudrup.

Malaga languish third from bottom after their ninth defeat of the campaign with new coach Manuel Pellegrini, who took over at the beginning of November, failing to revive the team’s fortunes.

In other matches, Hercules won the battle of the promoted sides triumphing 3-1 over fellow newcomers Levante on Sunday.

A brace from Paraguayan international Nelson Haedo Valdez and a seventh league goal of the season from veteran France star David Trezeguet sealed a fine home win for Hercules.

Real Sociedad are the highest placed of the three promoted sides with a 3-1 away win at Sporting Gijon on Sunday lifting them to ninth two points off the top six.

Athletic Bilbao joined Sociedad on 19 points thanks to a late 1-0 home win over Osasuna on Sunday thanks to a 90th minute winner from Carlos Gurpegui.

Elsewhere all eyes will be on Camp Nou on Monday when champions Barcelona host pacesetters and arch rivals Real Madrid in the first Clasico of the season.

Real are a point ahead of Barcelona after an unbeaten start under new coach Jose Mourinho and Madrid’s Portuguese sensation Ronaldo believes it is a game that could decide the title.

“It could be a decisive game because both sides are so even that these games could decide the championship,” said Ronaldo.