Valencia hammer Malaga at Mestalla

Valencia have ran out 5-1 winners over Malaga at Mestalla in La Liga this evening.

Four goals in six first-half minutes effectively ended the game as a contest as the home side ran riot over their Andalusian visitors, with strikes from Dani Pareja, Sergio Canales, Ever Banega and a double from Roberto Soldado.

Pareja opened the scoring when he jinked past defender Martin Demichelis before finishing into the bottom corner after 25 minutes.

Three minutes later Soldado grabbed his first of the evening when Aly Cissokho set up the forward for a close-range finish.

Less than two minutes after the second, it was 3-0 when Soldado converted from the penalty spot after Demichelis brought down Banega inside the area.

Ernesto Valverde's side were cruising at 3-0 after half an hour and it was four a minute later when Canales scored a tap-in after keeper Willie Caballero could only parry a shot in the playmaker's path.

Striker Julio Baptista pulled one back for Manuel Pellegrini's side in first-half stoppage-time when he curled home a free kick from just outside the box.

After the break, it was Banega's turn to get his name on the scoresheet when he smashed a powerful effort beyond Caballero after 56 minutes.

The victory moves Valencia three points clear of their opponents in La Liga.