Valencia ease past Eibar to tighten grip on top-four place

Valencia have secured a 3-1 win over Eibar in their La Liga clash to take a big step towards securing Champions League football next season.

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The home side threatened when Sofiane Feghouli won the ball in the midfield and found the run of Paco Alcacer in the box, but the forward's effort was saved by Irureta.

Valencia took the lead in the 25th minute when Nicolas Otamendi met a cross into the box from Jose Gaya and powered a header past Irureta into the net.

Rodrigo De Paul almost doubled his side's advantage before the break when he lined up a strike from distance, but Irureta was on hand to tip the ball over the crossbar with a fine stop.

In the second half, De Paul came closer still when he picked up a loose ball and fired a powerful effort at goal which smashed off the crossbar and bounced clear.

However, the hosts did double their lead a minute later as Daniel Parejo was allowed space and time outside the box to curl an effort past the outstretched hand of Irureta into the top corner of the net.

Valencia scored their third goal when Parejo's free kick from outside the box was tipped onto the post by Irureta, but Alcacer was there to react first and fire the rebound home.

Eibar did get a consolation goal as Angel made a brilliant solo run through the middle of the Valencia defence before teeing up Mikel Arruabarrena to place an effort past Diego Alves into the bottom corner.