Valencia 1 - Atlético Madrid 1

Valencia: Cañizares; Curro Torres, Marchena, David Navarro, Carboni; Albelda, Baraja; Rufete, Aimar (Di Vaio 07'), Angulo; Mista. 4-2-3-1.
Atlético: Leo Franco; Aguilera, Perea, Pablo, Sergi; Luccin (Simeone 46'), Marcelo Sosa; Ibagaza (Jorge 46'), Paunovic, Antonio López (Musampa 69'); Fernando Torres. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Valencia: Aimar, Mista for Sissoko, Di Vaio / Atlético: Aguilera, Paunovic for Velasco, Jorge.

Goals:
1-0. 64. Angulo. Following up after Di Vaio shot blocked by defender.
1-1. 79. Fernando Torres. Ran on to long ball and cut back to shoot past keeper.

Valencia and Atlético Madrid drew 1-1 on Saturday evening, a result which takes the visitors up into the top four pending Sunday's games. Ranieri's side needed a good result after going six matches without a win and being knocked out of the cup by Lleida midweek, and the manager decided to opt for the old school, with Aimar and Mista up front. But with only a few minutes on the clock he lost Aimar when he was kicked in the head by Pablo, the Argentine star being rushed to hospital after swallowing his tongue and losing a couple of teeth in the incident.

While Aimar was lying on the ground, Mista (who had just signed a new six year contract with the club) missed a chance to score after Leo Franco spilled the ball, but there was little else to shout about in a dull first half.. Only a couple of long shots from Curro Torres and Antonio López at the two ends caused any work for the keepers, and the sides went in level at the break.

The home side went ahead though midway through the second half after Leo Franco charged out of his area and left the ball on a plate to Di Vaio, the Italian striker's shot being blocked on the line by Pablo but Angulo following up to score. Atlético's challenge seemed to be over when Paunovic was sent off for a second bookable offence five minutes later, but ten minutes from the end Fernando Torres burst through on to a long ball to turn two defenders, beat Cañizares with a shot from the edge of the area. Baraja could have won it for the hosts with a last minute free kick which brushed the bar, but it was not to be. Valencia stay in third place for now, but on this form it will not be for much longer, and Ranieri is already under pressure.