Getafe 2 : 4 Valencia - Soldado strikes rout Getafe

Roberto Soldado scored all four goals as Valencia came from 1-0 down to claim an emphatic 4-2 victory at Getafe as they continued their hunt for an automatic Champions League spot.

Manu gave Getafe a 13th-minute lead and there was little sign of what was to come before Soldado levelled just after half-time.

It heralded a spell of four goals in 31 minutes and although Adrian Sardinero grabbed a late consolation, it was Soldado's night.

Getafe went ahead through a finely-worked goal involving Manu and Pedro Mosquera.

Manu slid a pass to Mosquera on the left of the area and he in turn backheeled to his team-mate who sent a curling 20-yard shot beyond Valencia goalkeeper Sanchez Cesar.

Manu was a constant threat in the early stages and Cesar was forced to parry another shot minutes later.

Valencia began to dominate possession and Soldado could have equalised when he ran on to a chip over the top but as well as lobbing the onrushing keeper Oscar Ustari, the striker put the ball wide.

Ustari tipped Jonas Oliveira's shot round the post before Soldado prompted a reaction save after he got across the defence and hit a first-time shot from close range.

However, their pressure finally paid off when Juan Mata slipped the ball through for Soldado who slotted a first-time shot home in the 46th minute.

The visitors then doubled their lead in the 64th minute when Oliveira's through ball was pounced on by Soldado, who beat the offside trap and slotted home with the outside of his boot.

Soldado completed his hat-trick just two minutes later when he pounced on a defensive error and left the hosts behind to shoot across the keeper with the ball going in off the post.

The forward was rampant and he got another in the 77th minute. Again Mata was the provider, sending in a looping cross from the left which found an unmarked Soldado whose half-volley went in off the bar.

Sardinero scored a late consolation and also hit the bar but it was all over.