Valencia go top as Real lose

MADRID, FEBRUARY 17: Valencia went back to the top of the Spanish league yesterday taking advantage of defending champions Real Madrid’s shock 2-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao. Valencia were in debt to Argentine star Pablo Aimar who scored with just nine minutes left of their match at near-neighbours Villareal to give them a 1-1 draw and a point to take them to the top.

Meanwhile, Barcelona twice came from behind to beat fellow championship hopefuls Deportivo la Coruna 3-2 with Dutch international striker Patrick Kluivert scoring the winner just three minutes from the end at the Nou Camp.

Valencia now have 44 points with Real Madrid in second spot on 43. Barcelona also have 43 points and the same goal difference as Madrid but are third having scored fewer goals.

Villarreal had dominated the opening stages of their game with Valencia and took a deserved lead through Rodolfo Arruabarrena in the 53rd minute. But Aimar, who had come on as a second half substitute levelled the proceedings as Valencia took advantage of having an extra man following Manuel Victor’s red-card in the 57th minute.

There were seven players booked in the match but Valencia won’t mind as the draw means they now have a one point advantage over Madrid who went into their game at Bilbao without influential international Raul who was injured.

The defending champions fell behind after 29 minutes when Roberto Martinez Tiko, who had been doubtful for the match because of a heavy cold, scored. It was a deserved lead for the home side as Real ’keeper Iker Casillas had to pull off an early save from Joseba Etxeberria and Asier Del Horno saw a shot come back off the post.

Del Horno made it 2-0 for Bilbao in the fourth minute of injury time at the end of the first half.

Fernando Morientes pulled one back after 55 minutes for Madrid with his 17th goal of the season, but Vicente Del Bosque’s team were unable to grab a second as the home side held out for the three points.

Morientes had scored five in his team’s 7-0 destruction of Las Palmas last weekend, but even his efforts were not enough to quell Bilbao who exacted pleasing revenge for their Spanish Cup defeat at the hands of Real Madrid earlier in the season. At the Nou Camp, a convincing victory could have put Deportivo on top and they looked to be heading for a win when Diego Tristan, with his 12th league goal of the season, gave the visitors the lead. However, veteran striker Luis Enrique, returning from injury, levelled for Charly Rexach’s side just seven minutes later.

Substitute Gonzalez Sergio restored Deportivo’s advantage with a 67th minute header before Argentinian international Javier Saviola brought the teams level for a second time six minutes later. It was then left to Patrick Kluivert, who scored for Holland in their 1-1 friendly international draw with England in midweek, to grab the winner and the three points with a fine header just three minutes from the end. There could be another change at the top of the table if Celta Vigo, currently in fifth place, defeat Malaga today. (Agencies)