Deception. Real Betis were not able to confirm at Mestalla the improvement shown against RCD Espanyol. Another and high-scoring loss at the stadium which is the green-and-white's bête noire. What was a good start came to an end at the close of the first half with two goals by Valencia which served as an appetiser for the goals that followed. The manager knows what it is like as a player to win at this stadium, almost 3 decades ago, but he was not able to savour victory as a manager. This final has been lost but the lapses are more worrying. 

Gabi Calderón redesigned the starting 11 in search of a win at Mestalla. The five-man defence changed for the to the more normal four-man defence with N'Diaye moving his position a little further forward forming a double pivot with Lolo Reyes. The Argentine manager wanted to find balance but this time he used to different arms. He gave the squad more height and speed renovating the left wing with Didac and Baptistao. Verdú was to be the link and Cedrick to destabilise the right wing. Up front Ruben Castro, with the mission to prolong his goalscoring run which has coincided with Calderón's arrival.

For fateful minutes at the end of the first half laid asunder the work put in by the team up to that moment. Real Betis was serious and focused when they came out, they looked for the ball and were consistent in defence. They did not look like a team at the bottom of the league and the wind seemed to be blowing in their favour. However, they didn't cause any difficulties for Alves. As time went by Valencia took control Vargas, Piatti, Alcácer, Feghouli and colleagues increasingly created hassle for the Betis defence. The green-and-white's best scoring opportunity came just before the disaster. A centre by N'Diaye was held by Diego Alves when Ruben was about to take a shot.

This was the prelude to the downfall. In the very next piece of play Adán cleared a good short by Vargas. Mathieu scored off a corner on the far post without opposition. Before Calderón's team was able to recover the second goal was scored. Poor control by Feghouli became a pass to Vargas. His grass cutting shot was intercepted by Alcácer scoring the second goal. 2-0 at half-time.

In the second half Jorge Molina came on for Cedrick to have more presence upfront. Real Betis was working together Valencia felt comfortable and were waiting for an opportunity to go on the counterattack. Calderón looked for a new variation substituting Baptistao who was not being noted on the wing. Now without midfielders on the wing Valencia scored their third goal off a counterattack initiated by Alcácer and finished off by Feghouli. The defence started to show signs of weakness and the match was over. The fourth goal came off a header by Alcácer who got past the fullbacks. The fifth goal was scored by Vargas and they could have been a sixth but Adán averted the danger. The match at Mestalla was a step back but the battle continues.

VALENCIA CF:  Diego Alves; Barragán, Senderos (Vezo 81'), Mathieu, Bernat; Javi Fuego, Parejo; Feghouli, Vargas, Piatti (64’Míchel); Alcácer (Jonas 74’).

REAL BETIS: Adán; Juanfran, Amaya, Jordi Figueras; Dídac (65’ Nosa); N’Diaye, Lolo Reyes; Baptistao (Matilla 58’), Verdú, Cedrick (46’ Molina); Rubén Castro.

REFEREE: Estrada Fernández. Yellow cards for Lolo Reyes (23 '), Jordi (52')

GOALS: Mathieu 1-0 (41 '). 2-0 Alcácer (44’) 3-0 Feghouli (62’) 4-0 Alcácer (68’) 5-0 Vargas (78’)