Valencia CF returned to Copa del Rey action in midweek to take on Real Sporting Gijón on Wednesday 18th of January at 7 pm kick-off time at El Molinón Enrique Castro Quini in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey. 

Valencia CF took charge of proceedings right from the off both in terms of possession and chances so much so that the first Valencia CF chance fell to Edinson Cavani who enjoyed a one-on-one situation only three minutes into the first half. Alas, he was flagged up for offside.  

The Uruguayan striker came close to pouncing on a Real Sporting Gijón let-off at the back minutes later, but his effort flew over the crossbar.   

Persistence paid dividends when no other than Edinson Cavani finally managed to break the deadlock smashing in the rebound. 

A scintillating solo move from Justin Kluvert who drove the ball upfield skipping past a few opposition players and managed to get his shot away as Mariño managed to deny him but Cavani was on hand to smash in the rebound.  

The opposition kept pushing for an equaliser in the next few minutes. However, they were hit on the break just under the halfway mark of the first half. 

Yunus Musah won the ball back in midfield and sent it to André Almeida who picked out the run of Justin Kluiver and delivered a deft pass into his stride for him to swiftly chip the ball over Mariño to put Valencia CF two goals to the good.  

Edinson Cavani grabbed a magnificent brace in the closing stages of the first period after weaving his way into the 18-yard box and clinically arrowing the ball inside the far post to make it 3-0 for Valencia CF. 

 The first half finished 3-0 at El Molinón.

Valencia CF picked up where they left off in the second half, albeit the tempo fell off a bit in the second stanza.  

Edinson Cavani came close to completing his hat-trick after collecting a ball from Yunus Musah and firing it off target.  

 Later on, however, Samuel Lino made it 4-0 for Valencia CF over the hour mark as the goal-fest continued. Hugo Duro latched onto the ball with a darting run and put it on a plate for Samuel Lino who turned it in and got his name on the scoresheet.  

Valencia CF came close to making it five in the closing moments with a flurry of chances in quick succession, but the scoreline remained unchanged and Valencia CF came away with a morale-boosting win from El Molinón. 

Valencia CF will return to LaLiga action to take on UD Almeria at Mestalla at 9 pm kick-off time on Monday Night Football on Matchday 18.

MATCH DETAILS:

0.  REAL SPORTING GIJÓN: Diego Mariño, Guille Rosas, Gragera, Insúa, Diego Sánchez (Pol Valentín, 87’), Zarfino (Cristo, 67’), Ignacio Martín, Pedro Díaz, Juan Otero (Campuzano, 67’), Djuka (Milovanovic, 67’) AND Dani Queipo (Izquierdoz, 46’).

4. VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Foulquier, Gabriel Paulista, Cenk, Gayà, Yunus Musah (Ilaix Moriba, 67’), André Almeida (Hugo Guillamón, 67’), Toni Lato (Fran Pérez, 67’), Justin Kluivert (Jesús Vázquez, 76’), Samuel Lino and Cavani (Hugo Duro, 58’).

GOALS: 0-1 Cavani, 10’; 0-2 Justin Kluivert, 21’; 0-3 Cavani, 39’; 0-4 Samuel Lino, 64’.

REFEREE: Munuera Montero.

OBSERVATIONS: Round of 16 of the Copa del  Rey held at the Estadio del Molión  Enrique Castro ' Quini'.