valencia-soccer news

Valencia moves ahead of Real

Valencia  opened up a two-point lead over Real Madrid in the battle for the Spanish Primera Liga runner-up spot when it crushed King's Cup winner Espanyol 4-0 and Real was held to a 1-1 draw at Getafe in a Madrid derby.

Julio Baptista gave Real the lead in the 61st minute, but Manuel Tena equalized in the 83rd.

With five games left, Real has 60 points to Valencia's 62. Barcelona leads with 73.

Baptista had three more chances to score for Real, hitting the crossbar in the 12th, forcing home defender Ruben Pulido to make a tough save in the 27th and missing after a free kick from substitute David Beckham in injury time.

Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas kept his team in the match with several saves, including two in the 24th.

A first-half penalty from leading scorer David Villa, second-half headers from Argentine center-back Roberto Ayala and substitute Mista and a late strike from Ruben Baraja earned Valencia a comfortable victory at the Mestalla.

The results mean that Barcelona will have a chance of retaining its league title next week if it wins at Sevilla and Valencia slips up at Athletic Bilbao.

Fourth-placed Osasuna is a point behind Real after its 1-1 draw with basement side Malaga.

In other matches, it was: Real Betis 0, Celta Vigo 2; Zaragoza 1, Cadiz 2; and Atletico Madrid 1, Bilbao 0.

Fernando Torres scored the only goal in the 82nd at the Vicente Calderon to lead Atletico past Bilbao, which had most of the possession and appeared more dangerous throughout.