Deportivo's ambition brought them a surprise Copa del Rey win at the Mestalla against a Valencia side who were unconvincing at the back and too timid when faced with goal.
Both sides fielded broadly strong line-ups, the likes of Mata and David Villa starting for Valencia, with Andres Guardado and Filipe among the stars for Depor. Yet at the same time rotation was evident: Miguel Angel Moya and Manu Muniz were the respective 'keepers, while Hedwiges Maduro and Adrian Piscu also earned rare starts.
With so many players looking to impress it is perhaps unsurprising that the opening stages were exciting. Depor started the better side, their first great chance coming via a goalmouth scramble on the quarter-hour mark after great work from Guardado.
Valencia, though, had a period of ascendancy after the visitors were rocked by an injury to Riki, who was replaced by Adrian. Joaquin had a superb chance but blasted over after some patient buildup.
Around the 35th minute there came two great chances for Deportivo, the first resulting in a Bruno clearance and the second seeing Adrian thwarted at a one-on-one by Moya.
Mata, at the other end, shot high over the bar, unmarked from inside the area, in one of his more disappointing attempts.
Two minutes after the break he was punished as the Galicians took the lead with an angled tap after Hedwiges Maduro failed to deal with a Juan Rodriguez cross. Eight minutes later it was 2-0, this time Pablo Alvarez netting off a superb Antonio Tomas through ball that left Angel Dealbert flailing.
Valencia pulled one back as substitute David Silva deflected an Ever Banega drive into the net 12 minutes from time, yet their play remained unconvincing. In fact, although Depor were compelled to sit back, there was little for them to worry about in front of goal, although Bruno's late header over the bar after Miguel's cross was a rare moment of alarm.
The visitors, then, can take a useful away-goal lead with them back to Riazor, where Valencia need to score twice to be in with a chance of progression.
Goal.com