Valencia began their Primera Liga campaign with a resounding victory over Real Mallorca at the Mestalla on Saturday nightFirst-half headers from David Villa and Juan Manuel Mata put Los Che firmly in control before substitute Vicente poked home a third goal from close range seven minutes from time.It was a comprehensive result in the end but the hosts did appear to be a little nervy in the opening exchanges and it required a controversial refereeing decision to bring the game to life.
On 11 minutes, the visitors were awarded a free-kick inside the Valencia penalty box when Jose Manuel Jurado burst into the area and Raul Albiol's timely interception was gathered by debutant Brazilian keeper Renan.
Referee Rubinos Perez deemed the pass to have been intentional, much to the dismay of the Mestalla faithful, but Nunes could find no way through a 10-man defensive wall when he blasted the resulting free-kick at goal.
The controversy certainly livened things up as the home side started to throw men forward in greater numbers from that point.
Their first corner after 17 minutes caught the Mallorca defenders unawares when a cleverly worked delivery culminated with keeper Miguel Angel Moya being worked by a David Silva turn and shot from 10 yards that he couldn't hold.
However, it was only after the introduction of former Everton midfielder Manuel Fernandes shortly after the 20-minute mark that the hosts really began to turn the screw.
Unai Emery withdrew Ruben Baraja from the action and while it wasn't clear whether Baraja was carrying an injury, the change proved to be the defining moment of the match as Fernandes' greater energy and purpose immediately caught the eye and turned the balance of play directly in favour of Los Che.
Valencia grabbed the lead on 34 minutes when Villa stooped to head Pablo Hernandez's deflected cross into an empty net from six yards.
The move came on the back of some clever play from Silva, his dazzling skills and close control catching the entire Mallorca defence ball-watching.
The hosts added a second four minutes later with a similarly scrappy finish from some neat build-up play.
This time it was Mata who applied the finishing touch with his head after Fernandes' effort was blocked by Moya and sat up nicely for the midfielder.
Oscar Trejo responded for the visitors with a well-struck shot from just outside the box that had Renan beaten but came back off the inside of the post but Valencia were just about value for their 2-0 half-time lead.
Things settled down after the interval and Mallorca rarely threatened as they struggled to find a cutting edge following the departure of last season's Pichichi winner Dani Guiza.
Valencia did string together some excellent passing moves and one of them was rewarded with a fine goal on 83 minutes when two substitutes combined to kill the game off with Vicente applying the finishing touch to a Miguel Angulo cross.
Sunday 31st August 2008
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