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Valencia 1-1 Slavia Prague: David Villa Dismissed As Los Che Stumble

The Spanish side saw their star striker red carded as they could only draw with Slavia Prague at the Mestalla...

Oct 22, 2009 11:00:32 PM

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David Villa, Valencia, Genoa (MARCA)

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Valencia 1-1 Slavia Prague
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David Villa received a straight red card as Valencia stumbled to a 1-1 draw with Slavia Prague at the Mestalla this evening.

Prague had taken a first-half lead through Niste Raumov, but David Navarro's second half header brought the scores level.

However, Villa's late dismissal for kicking out at defender Benjamin Vomacka allowed the Czech side to hold on for a vital point.

Valencia's starting line-up was almost unrecognisable from the side that pushed Barcelona all the way on Saturday evening but were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw.

Serbian Nikola Zigic started as the lone striker, with the trio of Pablo Hernandez, Michel and Alba playing just behind him, and it was the tall front-man who had the first chance of the match.

Zigic, who was heavily linked with a move to the English Premier League in the summer before opting to remain at the Mestalla, leapt highest inside the penalty area but could only direct his header just over the target.

After that early tester, however, the visitors were the more composed side in the first half, and after Senkerik had an effort ruled out for a narrow offside decision, Slavia Prague took the lead.

Miguel could not cope with the pace of Adam Hlousek on the left, and his cutback found Riste Naumov with the freedom of the Valencia penalty area to calmly knock the ball into the net.

Despite the Europa League being low on the list of priorities for Unai Emery, he would have been well aware at half-time that a defeat would blow the section wide open, and he reacted by introducing Juan Mata into the fray.

But apart from a penalty claim for a challenge on Mata that had the home fans roaring in anger, it was not until the introduction of David Villa with half an hour to play that Valencia threatened to fight their way back into the clash.

Just three minutes after 'El Guaje' entered the action, Valencia had drawn level, although it was through the unlikely source of defender David Navarro. Prague shot stopper Martin Vaniak was caught underneath a delivery into the area, and Navarro was on hand to nod the ball into the empty net and draw the sides level.

Prague, who had appeared composed until that point, were now wary of throwing the game away altogether. Defender Ragued was dismissed after collecting his second booking, and Valencia from then on laid siege on the visiting goal.

David Villa smashed a free kick against the upright as Emery's men sensed a winning goal, but the prolific striker then blotted his reputation with a petulant kick at Vomacka that saw him dismissed.

After that, Valencia's chances of winning were all but gone, and in the end Slavia Prague could be proud of their efforts as they claimed an excellent point against their below-par hosts.

Paul Macdonald, Goal.com

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