Valencia tightened their grip on third place in La Liga when Roberto Soldado struck twice in a 2-0 home win over Malaga as another Atletico Madrid defeat heaped pressure on coach Gregorio Manzano on Sunday. A day after Real Madrid moved three points clear of champions Barcelona at the top after 16 games, Soldado's 10th and 11th goals of the campaign put Valencia four behind Barca and four ahead of fourth-placed Levante who lost 2-1 at Granada.
Barca were in action at the Club World Cup in Japan earlier on Sunday, claiming their second triumph in three years with a crushing 4-0 defeat of Brazilian side Santos. Soldado, a former Real Madrid striker, has been making a strong case for a recall to the Spain squad for next year's European Championship and both goals were fine examples of the striker's art.
Jonas played the ball into space in the 36th minute at Valencia's Mestalla stadium and Soldado rounded Malaga goalkeeper Willy Caballero before powering the ball into the net. His second came after neat work on the left wing from Jordi Alba and he volleyed spectacularly home at the far post to double the home side's lead with around half an hour left. Soldado sent a message of support after the game to former Valencia striker David Villa, who broke his leg playing for Barca at the Club World Cup on Thursday.
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