Peter Lim , the new majority shareholder at Valencia CF , was in the VIP box at Mestalla to enjoy an excellent display from his team against Elche CF on Saturday night. VCF ran out 3-1 winners and continued their superb start to the La Liga campaign, returning to winning ways and claiming a fifth straight home victory. The game also featured the debut of Álvaro Negredo in a Valencia shirt.



Elche came into the regional derby with intentions of not parking the bus in front of their goal, attempting to match their opponents at the fortress that is Mestalla. All visitors so far have left empty handed -and they were no exception.



After two warnings from corners , a third was sent in by Pablo Piatti and powered home by Shkodran Mustafi. It was a brilliant header from the German international, who opened his account in La Liga and put VCF ahead after 13 minutes.



Soon afterwards the advantage was doubled –and again the goal came from a set piece. Piatti’s second fruitful corner was delivered in from the opposite side to the first, but the end result was the same: A header into the net. Dani Parejo’s instinctive run to the near post allowed him the space to give opposition goalkeeper Manu Herrera no chance.



Valencia CF took control of the game , setting the pace of the encounter and creating opportunities. One for Rodrigo was the pick of the bunch, as he dribbled towards goal and clattered a shot against the post. It was a let-off for Elche, who escaped a more comprehensively adverse scoreline going into the halftime break.



Come the second half, Piatti had a chance to score a goal of his own with a speed run into the area. However, his shot was slightly deflected and evaded an incoming Paco Alcácer at the back post. Nícolas Otamendi tested Manu Herrera with a header off Piatti’s free kick, and goal number three came from a familiar setup: Piatti sent a corner into the box, and Elche’s David Lombán turned the ball into his own net.

Continually searching for more, Valencia CF went forward relentlessly. Rodrigo made a mazy dribble and released a shot –deflected wide. He would then occupy a spot in the middle of the attack, when Alcácer was replaced by Roberto Ibañez.

Besides the goals, the other memorable on-field moment was the debut of Álvaro Negredo as he returned from three months out through injury. The new arrival at the club, with the number 7 on his shirt, came on with 7 minutes remaining for a brief cameo appearance. He almost marked his first game for VCF with a goal, but his shot flew over the bar.



With the win in the bag for Valencia CF and their superiority apparent, the game drew to a close. Just before the final whistle, deep into stoppage time, Elche would take a consolation goal through Jonathas –but even that could not put a dampener on the celebratory atmosphere at Mestalla. After a fifth consecutive home win, now the focus shifts to another derby: Next weekend’s game against Villarreal.

Spanish Primera División

Mestalla, Valencia

Valencia CF 3 vs. 1 Elche CF

Valencia CF: Diego Alves, Barragán, Mustafi, Otamendi, Gayà, Javi Fuego, Andre Gomes, Parejo, Piatti (Rodrigo de Paul, m. 80), Rodrigo (Negredo, m. 83) and Alcácer (Roberto, m. 76).

Elche CF: Manu Herrera, Damián, Enzo Roco, Lombán, D. Cisma, Mosquera, Adrián (Faysal, m. 79), Rodrigues (Cristian H., m. 74), Coro (Álvaro, m. 46), Víctor R. and Jonathas.

Goals: 1-0. M. 12: Mustafi. 2-0. M. 17: Parejo. 3-0. M. 63: Lombán own goal. 3-1. M. 93: Jonathas