Valencia consolidated their grip on a top-four finish in La Liga by winning 4-0 away to relegation-threatened Elche tonight.
Goals from Andre Gomes and Paco Alcacer either side of the half-time whistle helped Nuno Santo's side well on their way to a precious three points in their pursuit of the Champions League.
Enzo Roco's own goal on 71 minutes, coupled with Nicolas Otamendi's strike shortly before the end, sealed the victory as Los Che earned an eight-point cushion in the race for the top four.
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Valencia dominated a first half that saw the visitors denied two legitimate goals by false offside decisions, with Shkodran Mustafi and Alcacer the aggrieved parties.
Prior to those, Alcacer saw his bid for a 10th-minute opener denied by David Lomban, who cleared off the line, while Sofiane Feghouli missed arguably the chance of the half on 29 minutes.
They would not go into the half-time break overly frustrated, though, as Gomes was on hand to tuck home a timely opener after Feghouli's effort was beaten away by Przemyslaw Tyton.
Gomes then turned provider to set up Alcacer for the second as the Spain international converted his teammate's low cross on 57 minutes.
In a rare foray forward, Elche reminded their visitors just how tenuous a two-goal lead can be when Jonathas's deflected shot shaved the top of the crossbar.
They failed to build on that chance, however, and Roco diverted the ball into his own net, before Otamendi added insult to injury with a fourth in the dying moments.
Shane Callaghan
