Valencia eased into the Copa del Rey quarterfinals with a 4-0 victory over Las Palmas at the Mestalla on Tuesday, the Cup match playing out entirely like La Liga’s third-place side going up against the club in 20th. Valencia’s Luciano Vietto, who’s on loan at Los Che from Atletico Madrid, scored an amazing hat-trick of ever-increasing quality to lead the way.
The 24-year-old Argentinian gave Valencia a 1-0 advantage (2-1 on aggregate) in the 30th minute with a side-footed finish on the rebound after Simone Zaza’s header was miraculously saved by Raul Lizoain.
¡GOOOL! @LucianoVietto acaba su 'maldición' y le da la ventaja al @valenciacf, que ya gana - #ValenciaLasPalmas pic.twitter.com/AHkoB2llHN
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) January 9, 2018
The brace arrived in the 48th minute after some great work from Andreas Pereira on the wing. Vietto provided the finish with a wonderful scoop over the goalkeeper.
¡GOOOL! @LucianoVietto se toma confianza y @valenciacf ahora gana - #ValenciaLasPalmas pic.twitter.com/x4UtH3K1Pu
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) January 9, 2018
Finally, Vietto claimed his hat-trick in the 66th minute with the best goal in the world on Tuesday. From just inside the center circle, Vietto unleashed a picture-perfect lob that nestled into the corner.
¡GOOOLAZO! Un zapatazo de mitad de cancha de @LucianoVietto, que sella su hat-trick, pone a ganar al @valenciacf - #ValenciaLasPalmas pic.twitter.com/4QzZMK33CK
— beIN SPORTS Español (@ESbeINSPORTS) January 9, 2018
Atletico spent nearly $24 million on the player back in 2015, but he struggled in the Spanish capital before failing to really make the grade while on loan at Sevilla last season.
He just arrived at Valencia on January 4, and this performance will go some way toward convincing the club to make the move permanent in the summer.