Valencia's hunt for a top four La Liga finish shows no signs of abating as Los Che secured a comprehensive 3-0 victory against city rivals Levante in this evening's clash at the Mestalla.
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The visitors were quickest off the starting blocks as Andreas Ivanschitz's header in the third minute, following a corner, flew just wide of the post.
Valencia soon got into gear and managed to get the ball into the back of the net a few minutes later through Paco Alcacer, but Sofiane Feghouli was deemed offside when he collected the initial pass.
Levante were lucky as it turned out that the Algeria international was actually in play, and they had another chance moments later when Ivanschitz headed into Diego Alves's arms.
The hosts nevertheless succeeded in breaking the deadlock on the quarter-hour mark when Alcacer headed Daniel Parejo's pinpoint cross into the corner of the Granotes' net.
Both sides continued to provide high-tempo action and chances at either end, with the visitors' best chance coming in the 36th minute, David Barral firing high and wide after being played in by Casadesus.
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No sooner had that chance gone amiss that Valencia doubled their lead, Feghouli nodding home into the bottom corner from yet another well-worked cross.
Levante came out all guns blazing in the second half as Ivan Lopez's shot from outside the box cannoned off the crossbar moments after the restart, while Jose Mari forced a smart save from Alves on the hour.
For all of the visitors' hard work, Valencia stood firm and went on to add a third in injury time when Alvaro Negredo collected the ball on the edge of the box before thumping a shot into the top corner.
The result keeps Valencia in fourth place in the La Liga table, three points ahead of fifth-placed Sevilla, while Levante remain in the relegation zone on goal difference.
Giuseppe Labellarte
