Valencia CF hosted Getafe CF on Sunday the 4th of September at 9 pm kick-off time (CET) at Mestalla on Matchday 4 of LaLiga. 

Valencia CF had a bright start to the game playing their typical possession football and trying to open up the opposition defence in the opening stages of the first half at Mestalla. 

Toni Lato expertly brought down a deft Hugo Guillamón crossfield ball, cut inside and shifted it to his right foot and curled the ball into the top corner past David Soria to send the Mestalla faithful into raptures. 

Samuel Lino got on the scoresheet just under the quarter-hour mark after finishing off a lobbed Yunus Musah ball on the volley from close range beyond David Soria to put Valencia CF two goals to the good with panache. 

Namesake and fellow winger, Samu Castillejo was also amongst the goals moments later, after pouncing on a Getafe CF mistake at the back. He slotted it home with a first-time cross-strike from the tightest of angles past David Soria to make it three for Valencia CF within seven minutes.  

Valencia CF were forced into a substitution halfway through the first half following a clash of heads with Domingos Duarte and injury returnee replaced his fellow forward up top. 

Valencia CF continued to dominate as the floodgates opened. Valencia CF kept playing through Getafe CF with relentless forays forward and plenty of chances in the way of danger. 

The first half finished 3-0 for Valencia CF following a mesmerising showing at Mestalla.  

The same script followed in the second half with Valencia CF looking to widen the margins right from the get-go comfortably dictating possession and having the upper hand in the early goings.  

The game saw a start-stop spell amidst a raft of fouls from the opposition who were looking to disrupt and break up play at every opportunity to keep the scoreline at 3-0. 

However, Nico González had other ideas as he marked his first LaLiga start with a meaty header past David Soria who could not keep it out following a corner kick and the debutant made it 4-0 and got himself off the mark for Valencia CF. 

Hugo Duro made it five by latching onto an irrepressible Yunush Musah who was pulling the strings in midfield, he picked out the run of Hugo Duro and threaded the ball into his stride for Hugo Duro to poke past Soria to make it five.  

Gennaro Gattuso shuffled his pack brining on Ilaix Moriba, André Almeida and Foulquier who replaced Nico, Castillejo and Lato respectively.  

Gastón Álvarez pulled one back for Getafe CF and later on, Ilaix Moriba's return was short-lived as he was sent off for a double booking in quick succession.  

There was a dramatic ending to the game as Getafe CF were awarded a spot-kick deep into stoppage time, but the referee overturned his decision following a VAR review and Getafe were also reduced to ten men.  

Valencia CF marked an emphatic return to winning ways roared on by the Mestalla faithful with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Getafe CF at full-time at Mestalla. 

Valencia CF will chase their maiden away win of the campaign away at Rayo Vallecano Madrileño on Saturday, September 10th at the Estadio de Vallecas on Matchday 5 of LaLiga.  

5. VALENCIA CF: Mamardashvili, Thierry R., Cömert, Diakhaby (Cristhian Mosquera, 74’), Lato (Foulquier, 70’), Hugo Guillamón, Yunus Musah, Nico (André Almeida, 70’), Samuel Lino, Samu Castillejo (Ilaix Moriba, 70’) and Marcos André (Hugo Duro, 24’).

1. GETAFE CF: David Soria, Iglesias, Djene (Mitrovic, 29’), Domingos Duarte, Angileri, Seoane (Gastón Álvarez, 46’), Arambarri, Aleñá (Munir, 46’), Portu (Maksimovic, 46’), Borja Mayoral and Enes Ünal (Mata, 78’).

GOALS: 1-0 Lato, 7’; 2-0 Samuel Lino, 14’; 3-0 Samu Castillejo, 16’; 4-0 Nico, 65’; 5-0 Hugo Duro, 68’; 5-1 Gastón Álvarez, 79’.

REFEREE: Munuera Montero (C. Andaluz). Booked Aleñá, Samu Castillejo, Borja Mayoral, Munir and Mitrovic. Sent off Ilaix Moriba and Mauro Arambarri for a double booking.

VAR: Iglesias Villanueva (C. Gallego).

OBSERVATIONS: Matchday 4 of LaLiga Santander held at Mestalla.  VCF Femenino players, Asun and Fiamma took honourary kick-off in the moments leading up to the game as under 20 World Cup winners for Spain.

After the warmup, there was a homage to the towns affected by the wildfires by posing for a pitchside photo of the mayors holding up Valencia CF shirts.