Battling Valencia claim Champions League spot at expense of relegated Almeria

Valencia twice came from behind to eventually see off Almeria 3-2 this evening and secure a top-four finish in La Liga.

Los Che were looking nervously over their shoulder throughout the entertaining affair, but it was they who prevailed at the expense of an Almeria side that required three points to beat the drop.

Against the odds, it was the home side who took the lead inside the opening 10 minutes when Thomas Partey found the back of the net from a free kick.

The contest was all square again shortly before the half-hour mark, though, as Nicolas Otamendi bagged his sixth goal of the season by heading home Rodrigo De Paul's corner to make it 1-1.

Almeria were in a bleak position in the league table coming into this game, having failed to win any of their last four, but it was they who scored the game's third goal prior to the interval.

Fernando Soriano reacted quickest to fire home, after Thievy Bifouma's initial effort was blocked away.

Valencia were level again soon after thanks to Sofiane Feghouli, who found a way through on the end of another well-worked corner.

Chances proved to be far more limited in the second 45 minutes, however, with the game's decisive moment not coming until 10 minutes from time when Paco Alcacer raced through and delicately picked his spot to win the contest for the visitors.

There was still time left for Daniel Parejo to be shown his marching orders for a second bookable offence, but it mattered little in the end as Nuno Espirto's men held on to a Champions League qualification berth.