Valencia maintained their impressive record at the Nou Camp after tying Barcelona 1-1 in their Spanish League tie on Sunday. Spain striker David Villa put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute and substitute midfielder Andres Iniesta leveled seven minutes after the break. Valencia have kept an unbeaten run in Barcelona for five years and with this draw they take their point tally to 10, as many points as Barcelona and Real Madrid have, with the three sides splitting the table summit. Barcelona dominated possession but it was Valencia who scored first when Villa connected with Miguel Montero's cross from the right flank and sent a superb finish home. Villa almost doubled the lead just before the interval, rounding marker Rafael Marquez and dinking past Barca keeper Victor Valdez but his effort was denied by the woodwork. Barca coach Frank Rijkaard fielded Iniesta in the half-time for Brazil's Edmilson and the Spanish international proved the manager right.
Rodriguez He caught his marker napping, running into the area to burry a Samuel Eto'o ball home for the equalizer in the 52nd minute. Valencia keeper Santiago Canizares was called upon seven minutes later when he dived to block a dangerous curly shot from Deco. Earlier on the same day, Maxi Rodriguez hit a late double to give Atletico Madrid a thrilling 2-1 win over Sevilla. Brazilian midfielder Renato gave his side the lead in the 40th minute with a low shot past Argentinean keeper Leo Franco. Sevilla looked on the way to their fourth successive triumph but two red cards for Julien Escude and Javi Navarro proved to be turning points in the game. Benefiting from their numerical advantage, Atletico leveled through a long-range Rodriguez shot before the Argentinean struck again to seal the victory. Despite the defeat, Sevilla top Atletico in the standings with nine points in fourth spot, leading the winners on goal difference.
