La Liga: Three and easy for Valencia against Getafe

Valencia are in an early tie for second place in the Primera Division after cruising to a comfortable 3-0 victory at Getafe.

The visitors' third straight win was secured by first-half goals from Paco Alcacer and Andre Gomes, with Rodrigo Moreno later converting a penalty shortly before seeing red and leaving his team light.

Los Che are now only two points behind Barcelona and level on 10 points with ambitious Sevilla, but Getafe's third defeat of the season leaves them floundering down in 16th spot.

An in-form Valencia team looked eager to impress right from the first whistle and duly made the breakthrough in only the seventh minute.

Alcacer's finish was an unusual one. After being released down the right wing by Rodrigo, the newly capped Spain international appeared ready to make a slide and flick the ball across the six-yard box.

He instead, somewhat improbably, found the exact acute angle he needed to beat goalkeeper Vicente Guaita while finding the netting just inside the far post.

Angel Lafita did warm Valencia keeper Diego Alves' gloves in the 12th minute, but Getafe were soon overrun again and promptly conceded a second goal at the end of a fine passing move.

Goalscorer turned provider as Alcacer played a defence-splitting one-two with Gomes which sent the Portuguese midfielder strolling into the box to convert an easy finish.

Jose Gaya might have even added a third goal before the break but his drive from distance swerved wide of the mark.

The second half started at a slow tempo as both sides weighed up their options.

The onus was on Getafe to attack but they could barely get out of their own half as Valencia held onto the ball while occasionally attempting to break down either flank.

Los Che coach Nuno changed things around for the final half-hour, introducing Sofiane Feghouli for Alcacer and reshaping the team. The switch paid dividends in the 70th minute.

Naldo was suddenly overwhelmed by the trickery of Algerian winger Feghouli and could only bring him down in the box, allowing Rodrigo to fire goal number three from the penalty spot.

What had been a fine evening for the young striker ended prematurely, though, as he picked up his second yellow card of the match and his marching orders after piling into Sergio Escudero.

The extra space allowed Getafe some late joy in the final third but neither Lafita nor Diego Castro could do enough to blot Alves' clean sheet in the final exchanges.