Valencia 2 - Deportivo La Coruña 2

Valencia: Mora; Miguel, Ayala, Marchena, Moretti; Baraja, Albelda, Aimar (Angulo 82'), Vicente; David Villa (Fabio Aurelio 73'), Mista (Kluivert 77'). 4-4-2.
Deportivo: Molina; Manuel Pablo, Andrade, Romero, Capdevila; Sergio, Duscher, Valerón (Momo 71'), Munitis; Diego Tristán (Taborda 82'), Rubén Castro (Coloccini 65'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Valencia: Mora, Miguel, Marchena, Aimar, Vicente, David Villa for Cañizares, Raúl Albiol, Fabio Aurelio, Rufete, Angulo, Di Vaio / Depor: No change.

Goals:
0-1. 23. Diego Tristán. Took ball round Albelda and curled shot wide of Mora.
1-1. 51. David Villa (penalty). After Andrade handled ball inside area.
2-1. 80. Miguel. First time volley from right of area after cross from Fabio Aurelio.
2-2. 83. Sergio. Tap in on far post after defence allowed cross through.

Valencia and Deportivo cancelled each other out in an incident packed 2-2 draw in which both sides finished with ten men, Baraja seeing red late in the first half and Munitis picking up a second booking for handling the ball after the break. Diego Tristán put the visitors ahead midway through the first half after the defence failed to clear, rounding Albelda before beating debutant Mora who was standing in for the injured Cañizares. Baraja was sent off a few minutes later for a tackle on Manuel Pablo, and there were some tense moments as the two sides left the pitch, a clash between Capdevila and Aimar ended with the Argentine midfielder getting a bloody nose and then being caught on camera spitting at his adversary.

Things were calmer after the restart, but within five minutes Valencia had a penalty when Andrade handled in the area. Molina saved David Villa's spot kick, but referee Iturralde González ordered a retake for encroachment and this time the striker tucked it away. Miguel was also playing his first match for the Chés and he appeared to have won it for them with an impressive volley ten minutes from the end, but another defensive mistake allowed Momo's cross to reach Sergio for him to equalise three minutes later. Deportivo move top and Valencia are up to third pending Sunday's games.