Deportivo 0-0 Valencia

Deportivo La Coruna and Valencia shared the spoils in an entertaining match at the Riazor.

Both coaches will be left feeling frustrated after watching their men waste a sackful of chances.

Although it will be Depor boss Miguel Angel Lotina who will feel the most aggrieved at not having picked up all three points, with his team enjoying the majority of the chances.

Depor were also unlucky not to be granted two penalties late on in the first half, while Juan Rodriguez saw his header crash off the crossbar.

The result leaves the hosts in sixth place in the Primera Division standings while Valencia are two points ahead, in fourth,

It also puts a dent in Los Che's remarkable away form, as they had won six of their seven matches on their travels prior to tonight's encounter.

The match got off to a sluggish start with both sides knowing how vital this clash could prove to be at the end of the season in the battle for a Champions League spot.

The half-empty Riazor had to wait until the 12th minute for the first sight of goal as David Villa's weak shot was comfortably caught by Depor goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia.

Villa has scored nine times in 11 matches against Depor and almost added to his tally in the 16th minute when he took a free-kick from a dangerous position but could only fire it straight into the wall.

Depor slowly began to get into the game and indeed started to dominate.

They should have gone ahead in the 23rd minute with a fierce piledriver from Sergio Gonzalez but the midfielder blazed well over the crossbar.

The hosts went even closer on the half-hour mark thanks to a stunning pass from Juan Carlos Valeron which he lofted over the heads of the Valencia defenders to Adrian Lopez only for his effort to be deflected over.

Depor were getting into their stride and it seemed only a matter of time before they went in front.

The home fans thought they had done so 10 minutes from the break but Rodriguez's header crashed off the crossbar with Valencia goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez well beaten.

Valencia looked desperate to get to the break on level terms as they were forced to stem wave after wave of attacks and they were fortunate not to concede two penalties with handballs in the area, but the referee waved play on in both cases.

However, Los Che almost took an undeserved lead into the interval when Villa fired narrowly over in first-half stoppage time.

Unai Emery must have given his players a talking to during half-time for the visitors came out in more determined fashion.

And they could have opened the scoring minutes after the restart but Villa headed straight into the arms of Aranzubia.

Los Che were enjoying a bright start to the second half although they were almost made to pay for their profligacy in the 55th minute when Adrian released Valeron with a masterful pass but the veteran midfielder saw his deflected shot fly narrowly wide.

The hosts should have broken the deadlock shortly after the hour mark but an unmarked Sergio headed woefully wide of the right upright from inside the six-yard box.