Valencia Beats Lowly Granada 4-0 in Spanish League

Two goals in each half gave Valencia a 4-0 win over relegation-threatened Granada in the Spanish league on Monday.

Granada had managed to slow the host's pace in the first half until Javier Fuego rose to head in from a corner in the 26th minute.

Antonio Barragan earned a penalty for Valencia when he kicked the ball between Diego Mainz legs and was then obstructed by the Granada defender in the 38th. Daniel Parejo converted the penalty.

Valencia kept attacking and Algeria midfielder Sofiane Feghouli fired in a hard shot in the 85th after an assist from Alvaro Negredo.

Negredo headed the fourth inside the far post in the 88th.

"We're happy because our results at home are working out frankly quite well," said Valencia captain Daniel Parejo. "It was a tough match because there was a lot at stake for Granada. But we focused on our objectives and if we maintain this, we'll end up in the Champions League next season."

Granada is second to last, six points from safety, while Valencia is in fourth place, two points ahead of Sevilla.

Valencia increased the pressure on goalkeeper Roberto Fernandez after the first goal, forcing him to make a series of saves, although Granada could have equalized from a corner in the 36th.

Granada defender Emanuel Insua was taken off on a stretcher in the 54th after twisting his right ankle badly while making a left-footed clearance. He was substituted by Luis Martins.

"We knew they were a very good team and we hung on for 25 minutes, but after their first goal we understood it was going to get much more difficult," said Granada midfielder Daniel Candeias. "Now we have to think of our next match at home against Espanyol. We need to get the three points and win all our remaining games this season."