 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Valencia ended a miserable week on a high when they came from behind to snatch a 3-2 win at struggling 10-man Deportivo La Coruna that lifted them to fifth in La Liga on Saturday.
Ernesto Valverde's side suffered a humiliating 5-0 drubbing at home to Real Madrid last weekend and were dumped out of the King's Cup by the same opponents in Wednesday's quarter-final second leg.
Saturday's much-needed but rather unconvincing victory against the league's bottom club kept them above Levante on goal difference after their city rivals won 2-1 at home to Real Valladolid in the earlier kickoff.
Through to the last 16 of Europe's elite club competition to face Paris StGermain, Valencia had the perfect start at the Riazor when Jonas nodded them in front with barely 30 seconds on the clock.
However, Riki levelled with a header in the 32nd minute and then put the home side in front in first-half added time with a Lionel Messi-like dash in from the right and low left-foot strike into the net.
Depor were reduced to 10 men when Silvio earned a second yellow card early in the second half and Nelson Valdez made it 2-2 just after the hour.
Depor, whose financial problems forced them into administration this month, held on until the second minute of added time when Valencia captain Ricardo Costa headed powerfully home to make it 3-2.
Their misery was compounded when midfielder Paulo Assuncao was harshly sent off a minute later and they stay bottom with just 16 points from 21 matches.
