With a spot in the top four of La Liga in their sights, Valencia’s New Year hopes were thwarted when Espanyol defeated Los Murciélagos 2-1 thanks to two late goals, seeing the home side extend their sorry New Years Eve form, having now lost five straight league matches on the day.With fresh legs off the back of a long break in Spanish football, Valencia started the match on the front foot, pinning Espanyol deep into their own half and creating a flurry of half-chances. A Hugo Duro header struck the post in the 9th minute, sending the first warning shot across the bow of the Periquitos. However, with the Valencian pressure proving unworthy of scoring the opening goal, the away side grew into the match and carved out a few chances of their own at the other end. Yet, the two sides remained level as they headed down the tunnel for HT.Fabio Coentrao’s new life: After football and Real Madrid, the goal is – 10 fishing boatsThat pressure would finally tell only five minutes into the second half when Omar Alderete connected with a Hélder Costa cross, and the defender’s header zipped into the back of the net to give the home side a deserved 1-0 lead. Vicente Moreno’s men were gifted a chance to draw level when Jofre Carreras was taken down in the box from behind by Duro, forcing the referee to award the visitors a penalty kick, and send Duro off for his second yellow card offense. The subsequent spot-kick was emphatically dispatched by Espanyol talisman Raúl de Tomás, leveling the proceedings with just seven minutes before the FT whistle.From Atletico via Juventus: Morata is Xavi’s next targetDramatically, the Periquitos found a winner at the death when Carreras played in an inch-perfect ball to pick out Javi Puado in the box, and the Spaniard headed the ball past Jasper Cillessen to snatch all three points in stunning fashion. The dramatic turnaround victory for Espanyol will likely come as a shock to fans of the Catalan club, as the Periquitos had not won in their last 12 league tussles at the Mestalla coming into the game, losing 10 of those matches in the process.LA LIGA – ROUND 19FridayValencia – Espanyol 1-2 (0-0)/Alderete 51 – de Tomas 83 pen, Puado 88/Sunday16:00: (6.25) Getafe (3.80) Real Madrid (1.65)18:15: (2.45) Elche (3.15) Granada (3.30)18:15: (1.40) Atl.Madrid (4.80) Rayo Vallecano (9.50)20:30: (3.60) Alaves (3.15) Sociedad (2.30)20:30: (1.90) Betis (3.60) Celta (4.40)23:00: (3.70) Mallorca (3.40) Barcelona (2.15)Monday21:00: (1.45) Villareal (4.70) Levante (8.00)23:00: (3.40) Osasuna (3.00) Ath.Bilbao (2.50)23:15: (4.70) Cadiz (3.45) Sevilla (1.90)***odds are subject to change
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