Valencia 2 - 0 Sevilla FC

Valencia 2-0 Sevilla FC

Updated: August 30, 2009, 8:30 PM UK

Valencia start with win

Juan Mata and Pablo Hernandez struck in the second half to secure a 2-0 win for Valencia and a winning start to the Primera Division campaign against a Sevilla side down to 10 men for over half the match following the dismissal of Fredi Kanoute.

The former Tottenham frontman was sent off in first-half stoppage time for two bookable offences and the hosts ruthlessly made their extra man pay dividends after the interval.

Mata put his side ahead within two minutes of the restart and Pablo made the points safe 10 minutes from time with an effort possibly aided by the terrible playing surface at the Mestalla.

Carlos Marchena produced the first shot of the match for Valencia in the fifth minute but Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop was more than equal to it.

Palop was also on hand to comfortably deal with Pablo's effort 10 minutes later as the hosts continued to press.

The visitors were forced into an early change in the 21st minute when Ndri Romaric had to go off injured, meaning Manolo Jimenez handed new summer signing Didier Zokora a Primera Division debut off the bench.

Kanoute was given his first yellow card midway through the opening period for an aerial collision with Bruno which left the right-back dripping with blood from a head wound.

David Villa, who was linked with a move away from Valencia for much of the summer, looked to be through on goal in the 25th minute but Palop came off his line well to gather at the feet of the prolific Spain striker.

Another of Los Che's prized assets, David Silva, passed up a half-chance just before the interval. Pablo produced a dangerous cross from the right but Silva was unable to unduly test Palop.

Valencia were presented with the upper hand in first-half stoppage time when Kanoute was given his marching orders for raising his studs in a challenge on Marchena.

And the hosts took less than two minutes of the second period to make their numerical advantage tell.

Ever Banega, who started the match despite having been heavily linked with a summer switch to Everton, scurried in from the left and was just about to let fly with his right foot when Mata nipped in and lashed a left-footed shot past a static Palop.

Alvaro Negredo, a recent acquisition from Real Madrid, was afforded a Sevilla debut as a 55th-minute replacement for Diego Perotti as Jimenez looked to give his side a much-needed spark.

But the bulk of the chances continued to materialise in the home team's favour.

Palop came off his line sharply to block from Mata following Silva's neat ball from the left and the Sevilla keeper was also on hand to make a routine save from a long-range blast from Banega just before the hour mark.

Villa worked himself some space midway through the second half with an elusive diagonal run but could not get his shot away and was shepherded to safety by Sebastien Squillaci.

A slick move 14 minutes from time culminated in Villa crossing from the right towards Silva but again there was no way past Palop.

The clinching goal finally arrived on the counter-attack in the 80th minute.

Banega evaded a couple of Sevilla challenges on a quick breakaway before spreading a pass with the outside of his right boot out to Pablo, who - whether intentionally or otherwise - clipped past Palop.