Last-gasp Valencia goal denies Sevilla top spot
madrid — Mouctar Diakhaby’s stoppage=time header earned Valencia a 1-1 draw against Sevilla and prevented the Andalusians from moving provisionally top of La Liga on Saturday.
Pablo Sarabia’s 55th-minute strike appeared to have sent the Andalusians above champions Barcelona, who face Espanyol later, but the draw took them second on 28 points, level with the leaders and third-placed Atletico Madrid.
A dull first half gave way to an exciting second with Tomas Vaclik making a good save to deny Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler.
Sarabia broke the deadlock with his fifth league goal of the season when he pounced to score from close range, after Wissam Ben Yedder’s effort was deflected into his path.
Ever Banega and Andre Silva hit the woodwork for Sevilla as they tried to stretch the lead but poor finishing meant Diakhaby was able to rescue a point for Valencia at the death as Vaclik misjudged Dani Parejo’s free kick.
Despite their equaliser, Valencia fans whistled their team at the end of the game, disappointed with their ninth draw of the season which left them 12th in the standings.
Atletico Madrid moved into provisional second place in La Liga with a 3-0 win over fourth-placed Alaves on Saturday to join leaders Barcelona on 28 points.
Nikola Kalinic, Antoine Griezmann and Rodri struck for Atletico in a tight battle against the highflying Basques, with Diego Simeone’s side simply more clinical in front of goal.
Croatian striker Kalinic opened the scoring in the 24th minute, bundling the ball home with his stomach from Santiago Arias’s cross for his first league goal since a close-season switch from AC Milan. Atletico suffered a Atletico Valencia 3 Alaves 1 Sevilla
Athletic Club v Girona (0000) 0 1
Eibar v Levante (3pm) Huesca v Real Madrid (7:15pm) Real Sociedad v Real Valladolid (9:30pm) Real Betis v Rayo Vallecano (11:45pm)
blow when defender Lucas Hernandez had to go off with a knee injury but keeper Jan Oblak had little to do in the first half with Alaves struggling to create chances. Defender Jose Gimenez came close to doubling Atletico’s lead when he hit the post with a header from Thomas Lemar’s corner, while Alaves forward Jonathan Calleri nodded wide.
Griezmann wrapped up the points in the final stages when he broke through and tapped home after his first effort came back off the post, with Rodri slamming in a third to give Atletico an advantage which flattered them.
Later on Saturday Barcelona visit crosstown rivals Espanyol and third-placed Sevilla, who are a point off the pace, travel to Valencia. Alaves remain fourth on 24 points, a place and a point ahead of Real Madrid who are away at bottom club Huesca.
Earlier, Leganes and Getafe drew 1-1 in a Spanish league derby between southern Madrid clubs.
Uruguayan defender Leandro Cabrera headed Getafe in front in the 39th minute and Cameroonian right back Allan Nyom equalized for the home side from inside the area in the 64th. Leganes had midfielder Ruben Perez sent off three minutes into injury time.
The result extended Leganes’ unbeaten streak to seven matches in all competitions. —
Sevilla held