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First Division - Day 38

Almería 2 - Valencia 3

Almería: Rubén; Michel Macedo, Mauro Dos Santos (Soriano 32‘), Casado, Dubarbier; Verza, Thomas; Espinosa (Wellington Silva 54‘), Corona, Jonathan Zongo (Hemed 79‘); Thievy. 4-2-3-1.
Valencia: Diego Alves (Yoel 72‘); Barragán, Mustafi, Otamendi, Gayà; Dani Parejo, Javi Fuego, Enzo Pérez (Negredo 46‘); Feghouli, Paco Alcácer, De Paul (Piatti 63‘). 4-3-3.

Goals:
1-0. 09. Thomas. Low free kick which Diego Alves lets though hands into net.
1-1. 28. Otamendi. Ran in to head De Paul corner past keeper on near post.
2-1. 37. Soriano. Clipped ball back into net after keeper blocked Thievy shot.
2-2. 45. Feghouli. From close up after Javi Fuego played across Gayà centre.
2-3. 80 Alcácer. Picked up Feghouli pass and ran on past Casado to score.

Yellow cards: Barragán 34’, Casado 68’, Dani Parejo 69’, 89’, Wellington Silva 75’, Feghouli 75’, Gayà 86’, Javi Fuego 92’ / red cards: Dani Parejo 89’.

Excitement at Almería on the last day of the season, where the Andalusians went ahead twice before eventually succumbing 2-3 to Valencia. The decision by the Court of Abitration for Sports (CAS) to wait until next week before ruling on the proposed three point deduction meant that Almería started the game just two points off safety, and Thomas gave them early hope with a long free kick which went into the net off the post and keeper Diego Alves. Valencia themselves needed a win for two reasons though, firstly to give them a chance of beating Atlético for third place, but also to prevent Sevilla from overtaking them for the fourth Champions League spot, and midway through the first half Otamendi equalized with a powerful header from De Paul’s corner. A few minutes later though substitute Soriano restored the lead after Alves could only push out a shot from Thievy, and soon afterwards the veteran midfielder poked another shot just wide of the post. With the first half coming to a close however Feghouli levelled the scores again with a shot from close to goal after Javi Fuego played Gayà’s centre across the goalmouth, and after the restart Rubén had to be at his best to keep out a Dani Parejo free kick and a header from his own player, Thomas. There was a blow for the Ches when Alves was carried off with a serious knee injury, but with ten minutes to go Feghouli played on a long throw from replacement keeper Yoel, and Paco Alcácer got past Casado to fire the winner past the keeper. Parejo was sent off for a second bookable offence with a couple of minutes to go, but Valencia held on to ensure that vital fourth spot, and send their hosts down irrespective of whether the CAS docks them the three point penalty or not.