Ryan keeps it clean as Valencia advances
Australia goal-keeper Mat Ryan kept a clean sheet as Valencia moved into the Copa Del Rey semi-finals with a 1-0 (2-1 aggregate) win over Las Palmas.
The Copa del Rey continues to offer Valencia and Gary Neville the ideal respite from their league struggles as they joined Sevilla in the semi-finals courtesy of a 1-0 second-leg victory over Las Palmas.
Neville's men are yet to win in La Liga under the former England international's stewardship and went into Friday's second leg tied 1-1 from their previous meeting at the Mestalla.
Valencia made an ideal start when Rodrigo opened the scoring 20 minutes in as he converted Andre Gomes's delivery amid suspicions of offside.
Rodrigo's strike secured Valencia a potentially crucial away goal and put it into the lead in the tie, although Neville's men endured some late nervy moments.
Aythami Artiles had the pick of the visitor's chances in the final stages as he headed Jonathan Viera's cross wide, but Valencia did enough to move into the final four alongside Barcelona, Celta Vigo and Sevilla.
A 3-0 win for Unai Emery's men in Seville gave them the ideal platform to book a place in the semi-finals and they wasted little time in making life more comfortable for themselves against their Segunda Division host Mirandes.
Ion Velez brought down Sevilla midfielder Sebastian Cristoforo inside the area, allowing Vicente Iborra to open the scoring nine minutes in and guarantee a reassuring away goal.
The visitor was made to wait for its second, however, which came courtesy of Juan Munoz's side-foot after a Vitolo cross after smart work down the left-hand side 20 minutes from time.
Substitute Gael Kakuta crossed for Coke to head home two minutes into stoppage time, completing Sevilla's convincing progression against their second-tier opponents.
Sevilla has now reached the semi-finals of the competition six times in the last ten years.