Real Zaragoza frustrated by Valencia comeback

Valencia have battled back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw with Real Zaragoza at the Estadio de la Romareda.

The hosts were awarded a penalty in the fourth minute of the game as Helder Postiga went down under the challenge of Victor Ruiz.

Apono stepped up to take the spot kick and rifled into the net.

Zaragoza continued in the ascendancy and went further ahead just after the half-hour mark, this time Postiga himself claiming the goal.

The Portuguese forward met Francisco Montanes's cross before powering a header past Diego Alves.

Los Che were back in the game just six minutes later as Jonas tapped in from Aly Cissokho's low cross.

Alves then made a stunning stop just before the break to deny Postiga from restoring the home side's two-goal advantage.

Mauricio Pellegrino's men began to come on strong just after the hour mark, but only leveled courtesy of some calamitous defending.

Jonas was allowed to ghost in at the back post unchallenged to score his and Valencia's second goal of the evening.

Leo Franco then denied the prevented the Brazilian from sealing a hat-trick by saving a header as the visitors continued to flood forward in search of a winning goal.

Things got worse for Manuel Jimenez as the Argentine keeper then saw red for handling outside the area, forcing his team to finish the game with 10 men.

Despite being a man down, Blanquillos had two penalty claims waved away in the final minutes, but settled for a share of the spoils.