Valencia strengthen La Liga top-four bid with victory at Leganes

Valencia have increased their cushion in the top four of the La Liga table thanks to a 1-0 win over Leganes in Sunday's match at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque.

The hosts began brightly as Javier Eraso bore down on goal and attempted an effort from range, though the final result saw the ball sail wide of the left post.

Both sides traded blows but chances were at a premium during the early stages of the game, the first effort on goal not coming until the half-hour mark when Gabriel Pires struck a weak effort at goalkeeper Jaume Domenech.

Valencia pressed for an opener after the restart as Simone Zaza fired past the Leganes keeper but was thwarted by a goalline clearance on 54 minutes.

Eventually the breakthrough came courtesy of Rodrigo Soares, who fashioned some space on the edge of the box and slotted an effort low inside the right-hand post.

Leganes came close to drawing level when Nordin Amrabat connected with an inch-perfect cross into the Che box but he scuffed his header over the bar as the visitors saw the game out for all three points.

LEGANES (5-4-1): Cuellar; Zaldua, Bustinza, Munoz (Beauvue 73'), Siovas, Rico; Eraso, Perez, Gabriel (Garcia 90'), Omar (El Zhar 79'); Amrabat

VALENCIA (4-4-2): Jaume; Vezo, Garay, Paulista, Gaya; Soler (Torres 65'), Parejo, Kondogbia, Guedes (Pereira 80'); Rodrigo, Zaza (Vietto 70')