Valencia: Diego Alves; Barragán, Mustafi, Otamendi, Gayà (Lucas Orbán 67‘); Dani Parejo, Javi Fuego, André Gomes; Feghouli (Rodrigo 65’), Paco Alcácer (Negredo 78’), Piatti. 4-3-3.
Villarreal: Sergio Asenjo; Mario Gaspar, Musacchio, Eric Bailly, Jaume Costa; Jonathan Dos Santos (Alfonso 73’), Manu Trigueros, Tomás Pina, Joel Campbell (Rukavina 64‘); Vietto, Gerard Moreno (Giovani 61’). 4-4-2.
Goals: None.
Yellow cards: Mario Gaspar 21’, Vietto 31’, Dani Parejo 38’, Giovani 67’, Eric Bailly 87’, Otamendi 89’, Alfonso 92’.
Valencia had to settle for fourth spot this weekend, a 0-0 draw against neighbours Villarreal on Sunday not enough to take them back above Atlético Madrid, who had overtaken them having beaten Córdoba the day before. Chances were few and far between in the first half as both teams got off to cautious start, Diego Alves fumbling Jonathan’s early free kick and Mustafi and Paco Alcácer failing to find the target. After the restart Giovani got free on goal only to be pulled up for handling the ball, and Sergio Asenjo had to make a double save from Rodrigo and Alcácer. Negredo tested the keeper again with an overhead kick and then was closed down by Musacchio in another attack, and Dani Parejo fired a late free kick over the bar. A good point for the visitors in the end however, only the third team to take anything away from Mestalla this season, and they remain in sixth spot in the rankings.