Valencia Win After Negredo Hat-Trick

Álvaro Negredo scored a hat-trick, including two second-half penalties, as Valencia beat Granada 4-0 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 tie on Wednesday.

Negredo has been given a new lease of life under Gary Neville and the win was a confidence boost for Valencia who have yet to pick up a victory in La Liga under the former Manchester United and England defender.

The former Manchester City striker stole the ball off Diego Mainz and stroked it into the corner past Ivan Kelava after seven minutes.

Santi Mina laid the second on a plate for Rodrigo and then Mina was fouled by Uche with Negredo scoring the subsequent penalty after 62 minutes.

Negredo, who has had appendicitis and was frozen out by the former coach Nuno Espírito Santo, scored his third from the spot in the 83rd minute after he was fouled by Dória.

On Sunday Negredo missed a last night minute chance against vistors Real Madrid at the Mestalla thta would have secuireda valuable La Liga victory for his managr, Gary Neville.

However Kaylor Navas  blocked it with his feet at point blank range.

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First Win for Nevile Brothers

Gary Neville enjoyed his first win as Valencia coach when his side eased to a 2-0 victory over lower league Barakaldo and booked a place in the Copa del Rey last 16 with a 5-1 aggregate victory.

Santi Mina’s header put Valencia ahead after eight minutes and Álvaro Negredo slotted home having been played in by André Gomes after 31 minutes.

Neville, in his third match in charge, decided against making too many changes despite a 3-1 lead from the first leg against the third-tier side.

Eibar overturned a 3-0 first-leg loss as a Mikel Arruabarrena penalty completed a 4-0 win over 10-man Ponferradina. The top-flight side showed their priority was La Liga by resting nine players from the team that drew with Valencia on Sunday and still won, although the first-half dismissal of Jesus Berrocal made a big difference.

Mirandes of the second tier knocked out Malága as Lago Junior’s goal secured a 1-0 win on the night and 3-1 aggregate triumph.

Óscar De Marcos hit a first-half opener as Athletic Bilbao hammered Linense 6-0 and went through 8-0 on aggregate.

Rayo Vallecano advanced on goal difference against Getafe after losing 3-1, having won the first leg 2-0 while Las Palmas knocked out Real Sociedad after a 1-1 draw put them through 3-2 on aggregate.

Barcelona had reached the last 16 after beating Villanovense in a tie brought forward due to their participation in the Club World Cup. Real Madrid were thrown out of the competition having fielded an ineligible player in their first-leg game against Cádiz.

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Gary Neville New Valencia Coach

Gary Neville has been appointed the new head coach of Valencia until the end of the season.

Neville has been working as an England coach and as an award-winning analyst for Sky Sports since retiring as a player in 2011 but now takes up his first managerial role.

The former Manchester United captain - whose brother Phil was named co-caretaker following Nuno's decision last week to step down as boss - has agreed a five-month contract and will continue his role in Roy Hodgson's set-up.

Neville will be unveiled to the media on Thursday afternoon (3pm, UK time) and take charge on Sunday ahead of Valencia's Champions League game against Lyon on Wednesday.

"I am absolutely thrilled to be given this opportunity with Valencia," Neville told the club's official website. 

"Valencia are a huge football club of immense standing and I know from my time as a player the passion and dedication of the Valencia fans.

"I am really looking forward to working with the club's talented group of players and am excited about the challenge ahead."

Neville is one of the most decorated English footballers of all time, having won 20 trophies including eight Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns.

He spent his entire playing career at Old Trafford - making more than 600 appearances - and won 85 England caps.

England boss Hodgson had tipped the former defender, whose international career spanned more than a decade, to eventually make the move into management.

"He'll become a very fine manager in time," Hodgson, speaking earlier this year, said.

"I think he's a very good coach now. He'll become an even better coach with experience. He'll enjoy working with players. I think players will enjoy working with him.

"He'd be a loss to England."

The Nevilles have a connection to the Spanish side through owner Peter Lim, the Singaporean businessman who bought a stake in Salford City from the brothers and their former Manchester United team-mates Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.

Phil Neville, whose role is yet to be confirmed, left his own job as a pundit in June to join the coaching staff at the Mestalla.

Valencia remain in contention for the Champions League knockout stages but have struggled in the league this term, winning just five of 11 games after last season's fourth-placed finish.

Their next La Liga match is at home to champions Barcelona on Saturday and Phil Neville will take charge of that game along with co-caretaker Voro.

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Neville Stands in at Valencia

Valencia’s coach, Nuno Espírito Santo, has resigned after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat by Sevilla left them ninth in La Liga. A Sergio Escudero goal was enough to see off Valencia at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium in a match in which the visitors had both João Cancelo and Javi Fuego sent off.

Nuno, a former goalkeeper, was appointed at Mestalla in July 2014 to replace Juan Antonio Pizzi and guided the club to fourth place last season and Champions League qualification.

But with Valencia on the brink of elimination in the group stage and struggling in the league, Nuno revealed that he had told the owner, Peter Lim, that he intended to resign before Sunday’s game.

“Before the game I spoke with the president, with the owner, Peter Lim, and we have spoken after the game. We are all in agreement that the situation is not good. We all want to do the best for the club,” he said.

“It’s for that reason that I have taken the decision to leave the club. It’s been an honour to coach the club. I want to thank all the players I have worked with, Peter Lim and the fans.”

Reports in Spain suggested that Phil Neville, who has been working as an assistant to Nuno, will be asked to take training this week, with Frank Rijkaard and Michael Laudrup among the early contenders to succeed him.

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