Valencia kept the pressure on Liga leaders Barcelona by beating Celta Vigo 2-1 on Saturday with goals from Simone Zaza and Dani Parejo.
Valencia were looking for a first win in three games to revive their unlikely title bid and took the lead through a header from top scorer Zaza in the 28th minute, the Italian’s 10th league goal of the season, according to a Reuters report.
Iago Aspas stabbed in from close range in the 46th minute to equalise for Celta, who had held Barca to a 2-2 draw last weekend, but Parejo restored Valencia’s lead nine minutes from time with a double stroke of fortune as his disputed penalty went through the hands of goalkeeper Ruben Blanco.
Valencia are second in the standings, moving two points behind Barcelona who have 36 and visit Villarreal on Sunday. Real go third on 31 but Atletico Madrid can go back above Zinedine Zidane’s side when they visit Real Betis on Sunday.
Celta’s players raged against referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero for awarding Valencia the penalty when Jose Gaya went to ground following a challenge by Pablo Hernandez.
“We didn’t drop points today, we had them taken off us by that person (the referee). He robbed us. I hope he doesn’t officiate any more of our games,” said Celta captain Hugo Mallo.
Goalscorer Aspas added: “I think he must have something against Celta, in every game of ours which he has taken charge of, something has gone against us.”
Valencia coach Marcelino, who was back in the dugout following a two-game touchline ban, said: “It was a really exciting game. The result is fair because we scored two legal goals but Celta played very well and if they’d drawn we wouldn’t have been able to complain.”