Valencia beat Sevilla, Espanyol crash in Cordoba

Jan 5, 2012, 22:59 GMT

Madrid - Valencia beat Sevilla 1-0 at home on Thursday in a vibrant Spanish King's Cup third round first leg clash.

The only goal of an eventful game was scored in the 34th minute by Valencia's Brazilian forward Jonas with a precise curling shot, after having been set up by legt-back Jeremy Mathieu.

Jonas came close to making it 2-0 for Valencia seven minutes into the second half. But from then on Sevilla were in command, and Spain strikers Alvaro Negredo and Manu del Moral squandered good chances to equalize.

The second leg will be played in Seville on January 11. Sevilla last won the cup in 2010, Valencia in 2008.

Earlier on Thursday, second division Cordoba came from behind to beat Espanyol 2-1 at home.

Former Spain striker Sergio Garcia gave Espanyol the lead in the 39th minute, only for Cordoba to turn the game around thanks to late goals from Borja Garcia and Carlos Caballero.

On Wednesday, European champions Barcelona thrashed Osasuna 4-0, with FIFA World Player Lionel Messi coming off the subs' bench and scoring twice.

On Tuesday, holders Real Madrid came from behind to beat Malaga 3-2 at home.

If Barca and Real manage to get past Osasuna and Malaga then they will face each other in the quarter-finals.