New Delhi: There were only two goals but it was not for want of trying, as Valencia and Malaga came away from their clash with a point each.
Malaga earned a precious away point at the Mestalla, as they came back from a goal down.
Valencia lined up in familiar fashion, with Vicente being preferred to Juan Mata on the left.
Malaga, meanwhile, fielded a fearsome attacking foursome of Eliseu, Duda, Nabil Baha and Alvaro Luque.
First Half
Valencia may have been the home side, but it was Malaga who looked at ease early on, as a Duda free-kick hit the post barely minutes into the game. There was certainly no love lost between the teams, and Luque was perhaps a little lucky not to get sent off for a wild challenge on Emiliano Moretti's knee after seven minutes, with the referee producing a yellow card. It proved to be too much for the Italian, who had to come off after 14 minutes.
Both keepers were kept busy, as Goitia and Cesar pulled off spectacular saves from long distance efforts by Joaquin and Luque respectively. The game then suddenly settled down for a while, as both sides sought some relief after a frantic beginning. Chances were at a premium until 34 minutes, when Eliseu's wonderful cross was headed just wide by a diving Luque.
With ten minutes to go, Nabil Baha wasted two golden chances to provide the lead. A sublime through ball from Duda released Luque, who duly slotted into Baha's path, but he could only shoot straight at Cesar. The rebound fell back to Baha, but this time it was Raul Albiol on the bench who was in the way.
Five minutes before the break, Joaquin wasted another chance after being set up by David Villa, when he shot straight at the keeper. Moments later, Villa almost scored one of the goals of the season as he executed an absolutely sublime chip from the edge of the box, but it bounced agonisingly off the crossbar. He then nearly squeezed a shot in just before the break, but Goitia got down well to save.
Just as both sides were preparing for the break, Eliseu was released through on goal, but he ran into the oncoming Cesar, leaving both parties in a painful state. That proved to be the last action of the half, as both sides somehow went into the break without a goal, despite a barrage of shots.
Second Half
The second half started in similar fashion to the first, with Raul Albiol firing a shot in after two minutes. It only took seven minutes for the deadlock to be broken as Villa scored another classic. Receiving the ball on the right, he cut inside before placing a shot expertly into the top right hand corner. It was a sublime strike, that set the platform for the home side to build on for the second half.
Antonio Tapia wasted no time in making changes, replacing Nabil Baha with Salva. It did not take them long to equalise, as Eliseu scored with the aid of a somewhat fortuitous deflection. While Raul Albiol was unlucky to see the ball fall into the net off his knee, it was made possible thanks to a mazy run by Eliseu, who smashed the ball into the defender. It was the score-line an even match deserved, and the onus now lay on both sides to seize the advantage.
With twenty minutes to go, there was a controversial moment as Cesar and Eliseu clashed on the edge of the box. Despite Malaga's protestations, there was certainly no foul, although the tricky winger was certainly worse off for the challenge. Unai Emery, meanwhile, brought Juan Mata on for Vicente. He almost had an immediate impact, as his free-kick led to two chances for David Silva, both of which were well saved at close range by Goitia.
With 15 minutes to go, Tapia brought Luque off, replacing him with Nacho. Minutes later, Eliseu nearly provided Salva with the winner, but he was inches away from the threatening cross. He repeated the trick again, but this time Salva volleyed over the bar.
On 80 minutes, Villa was brought down inches outside of the box by Cuadrado. He picked himself up and fired in a low free kick, that was eventually saved by Goitia, at the second attempt. Malaga immediately went up the other end and almost scored from a Salva header, but it was cleared by Albiol. He had yet another golden opportunity three minutes from the end, but was centimetres away from meeting Jesus Gamez's cross, with the goal gaping.
That proved to be the final chance of an excellent match which somehow only produced two goals. Malaga will be the happier of the sides after coming from behind to claim an away point, while the pressure will increase on Unai Emery after another disappointing result.
Valencia 1-1 Malaga
Villa 52 Raul Albiol (O.G.) 58
Valencia: Cesar - Maduro, Albiol, Marchena, Moretti (Carleto 15) - Albelda, Baraja (Manuel Fernandes 63), Joaquin, Silva, Vicente (Mata 69) - Villa
Malaga: Goitia - Jesus Gamez, Cuadrado, Weligton, Calleja - Apono, Lolo, Eliseu, Baha (Salva 55), Duda (Pablo Barros 85) - Luque (Nacho 75)
Yellow Cards: Luque 7, Albelda 35, Baraja 57, Raul Albiol 76, Cuadrado 80, Eliseu 91
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