JOIN USValencia’s preparations for Thursday’s Europa League opener at home to Swansea City suffered a setback when they were comprehensively outplayed in the first half and lost 3-1 at Real Betis in La Liga on Sunday.
Betis, who begin their own campaign in the continent’s second-tier club competition at home to Olympique Lyon on Thursday, were 3-0 ahead by halftime at their Benito Villamarin stadium in Seville.
Jorge Molina lashed a shot past Diego Alves from the edge of the area to open the scoring in the ninth minute before Salva Sevilla struck twice to leave the visitors reeling.
Ricardo Costa pulled a goal back with a header from Ever Banega's freekick with just over 20 minutes left but Betis comfortably thwarted Valencia’s comeback bid to record their first win of the campaign.
With four matches played, Betis have four points. Valencia are stuck on three after three straight defeats following their opening day win at Malaga.
Mounir El Hamdaoui became the first player to score a hat-trick for Malaga in almost 10 years in a 5-0 success for the Qatar-owned club at home to Rayo Vallecano earlier on Sunday, their first win of the campaign.The Morocco international, who was born in Rotterdam and has played in England, Netherlands and Italy, also made one assist on his first start for Bernd Schuster's side since joining on loan from Fiorentina in the close season.
Espanyol continued their unbeaten start with a 1-0 win at Granada and Miku grabbed a double in Getafe's 2-1 comeback win at home to struggling Osasuna.