valencia-soccer news

STALEMATE IN VALENCIA

Valencia returned to second place in the Primera Liga on Saturday, but a frustrating draw against Atletico Madrid may yet prove costly in the race for an automatic Champions League berth.

David Villa's penalty gave the hosts a promising start to the fixture, but their lead lasted just nine minutes before Atletico grabbed a share of the spoils with Maxi Rodriguez' strike.

Valencia are now level on points with nearest challengers Real Madrid, and sit above them because of a better head-to-head record.

But victory over Villarreal on Sunday would once more put Real in the driving seat, leaving Valencia with it all to do in the final round in order to avoid having to go through Champions League qualifying.

Valencia started brightly and were unlucky not to go ahead after four minutes when Villa's clever pass picked out the run of Mario Regueiro. The Uruguayan went clear of the defence but Leo Franco ran across and was able to put him off his shot.

Six minutes later Valencia again sprung the Atletico offside trap. This time it was Villa who went clear but as he tried to round Franco, the Argentinian goalkeeper made contact, bringing him down for a penalty.

Villa took the spot-kick himself rolling it straight down the middle as Franco dived to his left for his 25th goal of the season, one behind Samuel Eto'o in the race to be Spain's top scorer.

Atletico drew level on 20 minutes with practically their first threat on goal.

Antonio Lopez curled a free kick into the area finding Maxi unmarked at the far post. The Argentinian winger's volley was blocked by Santiago Canizares, but rebounded back for him to prod home from six yards.

Spurred on by the goal Atletico began to dictate the play and should have scored when Fernando Torres passed inside for Maxi.

Emiliano Moretti's strong challenge drew calls for a penalty, but play was waved on and the ball fell to Mateja Kezman, who could only blast wide from 10 yards out.

Regueiro again went close 10 minutes before half-time. Miguel Angulo's cross from the right found the former Racing Santander player 12 yards out, but his header lacked direction and failed to trouble Leo Franco.

Valencia came out with renewed purpose in the second half and were unlucky not to take the lead three minutes after the restart when Atletico failed to clear the ball inside their area.

The ball fell to Regueiro 20 yards out who hit a crisp left footed shot that beat the unsighted Franco only to rebound off the post.

However, the resurgence was short-lived and the game reverted back to the pattern of the first half with Atletico dominating possession and Valencia trying to break through Regueiro and Villa.

The only notable moment came when the freshly introduced Vicente Rodriguez, just back from long-term injury, fired a shot across goal from the edge of the area, but Franco easily held on for the save.

In the last 10 minutes both sides could have decided the game. First, with seven minutes remaining, Valencia were nearly gifted a goal when Juan Velasco's casual pass was easily intercepted by David Albelda.

The Valencia captain took the ball into the area, but his low shot across goal lacked power and was easily gathered by Franco.

Then, debutant striker Julian Vara could have scored the winner as the game went into stoppage time.

The Atletico youngster, on as a substitute for the dying minutes, found space at the far post and looked to have headed Antonio Lopez's cross past Canizares until the veteran goalkeeper made a fine one-handed save to turn the ball over the bar.