beIN SPORTS

By Des Norris

Having spent most of the summer licking their wounds after watching one of the most pathetic LaLiga campaigns in their club’s recent history, Valencia fans could have been forgiven for hoping better things were to come in the 2016-17 season.

And despite Santi Mina sending Mestalla into raptures in the sixth minute of matchday one, any aspirations of climbing back into the Champions League places will have to wait for now, as Los Che were handed a 4-2 home defeat by Las Palmas.

With no Gary Neville to scapegoat this time, silence descended on the ground by the 31st minute following a three-goal flurry in the space of 15 minutes from the Canary Islanders, with Marko Livaja, Jonathan Viera (penalty) and debutant Kevin-Prince Boateng all getting on the scoresheet.

The one bright spark for Paco Ayestaran’s side, Santi Mina, pulled one back before the break but that was to be as close to a comeback as they would muster up.

Valencia dominated possession in the second half but a lack of incision – in no small part to the visitors' resilient back line – saw them fail to seriously trouble Javi Varas between the sticks and to cap off the misery they received a sucker punch right at the death when, with plenty of options to choose from, Livaja finished coolly to collect a brace for his evening’s work.