Spanish Primera Division: Valencia tighten grip on third with easy win over Elche

Paco Alcacer scored his seventh league goal of the season as Valencia cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win over Elche and strengthen their grip on third place in the Primera Division.

The 21-year-old, who was left out of the Spain squad earlier in the day, netted the second of the game after Andre Gomes had opened the scoring, with an Enzo Roco own goal and a Nicolas Otamendi effort rounding off the win.

Nuno's side went in to the game on the back of just one loss in their last nine games, a run which has seen them overtake Atletico Madrid in the table, and they dominated from the start.

Otamendi had a brace of chances in the opening minutes, seeing a header saved from a Pablo Piatti set-piece before firing wide from the subsequent corner.

Piatti, who caused problems all night, played a major role in the opening goal, which came on the stroke of half-time. His cross teed up Sofiane Feghouli, whose shot was parried into the path of Gomes, who made no mistake from close range.

Gomes turned provider for the second goal, finding room down the right before firing in a powerful cross for the predatory Alcacer to acrobatically finish from six yards out.

Feghouli could have further extended the lead, but missed a gilt-edged chance. However, he made amends minutes later when he again found space on the right wing and put in a teasing cross which a sliding Roco could only knock past his own keeper.

Elche had a few chances as the game fizzled out, but the victory was rounded off in stoppage time as Otamendi again popped up from a Piatti corner to head home as Valencia established a four-point advantage over Atletico.