Valencia drew 1-1 at Real Sociedad in an entertaining match featuring a series of great saves to remain undefeated despite slipping to second place in the Spanish league on Sunday.
Sociedad started well at its Anoeta Stadium, and Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves had to dive to turn back tries by Carlos Vela and Imanol Agirretxe before the visitors went ahead.
Valencia striker Paco Alcacer made a clever headed pass to knock Rodrigo Moreno’s lobbed pass back for Carles Gil to score the 15th-minute opener.
But seconds after Valencia defender Jose Gaya cleared Inigo Martinez’s header off the line, former Valencia forward Sergio Canales sent in cross that fooled Diego Alves before slipping inside the far post to level for Sociedad in the 36th.
Both teams needed their defenders to save shots to protect a point in a wild finale.
In the 89th, Sociedad goalkeeper Enaut Zubikarai got low to stop Nicolas Otamendi’s strike from a corner kick, and Mikel Gonzalez was quick to boot out Shkodran Mustafi’s goal-bound attempt to put in the rebound.
In stoppage time it was Mustafi’s turn to head Canales’ bouncing shot over the bar.
Valencia had entered the round as leader on goal difference over Barcelona, and the draw meant it fell two points behind the Catalan club. Valencia is level on points with third-place Atletico Madrid, one point ahead of Sevilla and two points ahead of Real Madrid and Celta Vigo.
Valencia’s first-year coach Nuno Espirito Santo said he was satisfied with the point at a stadium where his team had lost in its last three visits.
“We have to remember that we had a day less of rest that our rivals in recent games,” Espirito Santo said. “Beyond the physical part, the emotional part is important as well.”
The draw ended a two-game losing skid for Sociedad.
Elsewhere, Almeria forward Edgar Mendez scored in stoppage time to grab a 1-0 victory at Deportivo La Coruna, while Michel Herrero’s first-half goal helped Getafe beat Malaga 1-0 at home and break its three-game losing streak.
Last-place Cordoba, meanwhile, remained the only team yet to win through six rounds after a drab 0-0 draw with Espanyol at home.
Mendez’s shot from the edge of the area took a glancing deflection off a defender and went in off the crossbar to silence home fans at Riazor Stadium.
Deportivo defender Sidnei hit the post in the 27th for his team’s only scoring chance in an otherwise demoralizing showing. Deportivo remained winless at home in its return to the first division, while Almeria recorded its second straight away win.
In Madrid, Herrero slotted in a squared pass from Karim Yoda to score what proved to be Getafe’s winner in the 25th. Malaga goalkeeper Carlos Kameni got his hand on the shot but couldn’t keep it out.
It was Getafe’s first goal in four games and only its third this season.
Malaga went scoreless for the fourth time this season.
Malaga defender Weligton was sent off with a second yellow card in injury time.
