Copa del Rey: Mina, Negredo gift Neville first Valencia win
Los Che cruise into last 16 with 2-0 triumph over Barakaldo
Neville handed Negredo his first start since early October and the Spaniard returned the favour by slotting the second goal in Valencia’s 2-0 win. PHOTO COURTESY: VALENCIACF.COM
MADRID:
Gary Neville claimed his first victory as a head coach at the fourth attempt as Valencia eased into the last 16 of the Copa del Rey with a 2-0 win over Barakaldo on Wednesday.
Already leading 3-1 from the first leg against the Basque side from the third tier of Spanish football, Santi Mina ensured there was to be no unwanted shocks for Neville when he headed home just his second goal for the club after eight minutes.
Neville handed Alvaro Negredo his first start since early October after the former Manchester City striker fell out of favour under previous coach Nuno Espirito Santo and then suffered appendicitis.
Copa del Rey: Neville seeks first win as Valencia boss in Cup
However, the Spanish international’s eye for goal looks to have returned as he slotted home his first strike since August just after the half hour mark.
Elsewhere, last season’s beaten finalists Athletic Bilbao cruised through with a 6-0 thrashing of lower league Linense to seal an 8-0 aggregate win.
Ernesto Valverde named a surprisingly strong side and was rewarded with second-half goals from Javier Eraso, Borja Etxeita, Kike Sola, Raul Garcia and Mikel Rico adding to Oscar de Marcos’s early opener.
Neville seeks fresh Valencia after poor start
Eibar produced a stunning fightback from a 3-0 first leg deficit to beat 10-man Ponferradina 4-0 to progress.
Second division Mirandes produced the only upset of the round so far with a 1-0 win at La Liga strugglers Malaga to back up their 2-1 first leg lead.
In the ties between two top flight teams, Lass Bangoura’s strike was enough to seal Rayo Vallecano’s place in the last 16 on away goals despite a 3-1 defeat at Getafe.
Gary Neville appointed Valencia coach: La Liga club
And Las Palmas squeezed past Real Sociedad 3-2 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw at Anoeta.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2015.
Gary Neville claimed his first victory as a head coach at the fourth attempt as Valencia eased into the last 16 of the Copa del Rey with a 2-0 win over Barakaldo on Wednesday.
Already leading 3-1 from the first leg against the Basque side from the third tier of Spanish football, Santi Mina ensured there was to be no unwanted shocks for Neville when he headed home just his second goal for the club after eight minutes.
Neville handed Alvaro Negredo his first start since early October after the former Manchester City striker fell out of favour under previous coach Nuno Espirito Santo and then suffered appendicitis.
Copa del Rey: Neville seeks first win as Valencia boss in Cup
However, the Spanish international’s eye for goal looks to have returned as he slotted home his first strike since August just after the half hour mark.
Elsewhere, last season’s beaten finalists Athletic Bilbao cruised through with a 6-0 thrashing of lower league Linense to seal an 8-0 aggregate win.
Ernesto Valverde named a surprisingly strong side and was rewarded with second-half goals from Javier Eraso, Borja Etxeita, Kike Sola, Raul Garcia and Mikel Rico adding to Oscar de Marcos’s early opener.
Neville seeks fresh Valencia after poor start
Eibar produced a stunning fightback from a 3-0 first leg deficit to beat 10-man Ponferradina 4-0 to progress.
Second division Mirandes produced the only upset of the round so far with a 1-0 win at La Liga strugglers Malaga to back up their 2-1 first leg lead.
In the ties between two top flight teams, Lass Bangoura’s strike was enough to seal Rayo Vallecano’s place in the last 16 on away goals despite a 3-1 defeat at Getafe.
Gary Neville appointed Valencia coach: La Liga club
And Las Palmas squeezed past Real Sociedad 3-2 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw at Anoeta.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2015.