Piscu pounces to keep Valencia in check

A 79th-minute header from Piscu earned RC Deportivo La Coruña a 1-1 draw with ten-man Valencia CF at the Riazor, denying their opponents a place in the Liga's top four.

Villa dismissed
Piscu headed a free-kick flighted to the far post back across Valencia goalkeeper César, just moments after the visitors' goalscorer, David Villa, had been dismissed for his second booking. Villa (25) had earlier put Valencia ahead with a composed finish when he seized on a loose pass from the home side, a goal which looked set to elevate Unai Emery's charges into fourth at the expense of Villarreal CF, who came from behind to defeat Real Sporting de Gijón on Saturday.

Málaga success
Valencia are now level on points with sixth-placed Málaga CF, who won 3-1 at mid-table Real Valladolid CF thanks to goals from Albert Luque (8), Apoño (30) and Nacho (88). Meanwhile, Fernando Llorente (41) cancelled out Roberto Soldado's 16th-minute opener to salvage Athletic Club Bilbao a 1-1 draw at Getafe CF, while Jurado struck in the 89th minute for relegation-threatened RCD Mallorca to inflict a 1-0 defeat on a visiting Real Racing Club outfit.

Relegation issues
Mallorca occupy the final relegation place, one place below a CA Osasuna side who heaped more misery on bottom club CD Numancia with a 2-0 home win. Elsewhere, RC Recreativo de Huelva edged two points clear of danger by drawing 1-1 at home with UD Almería.