Goalless at Valladolid

Valladolid climbed out of the Primera Division relegation zone after holding Valencia to a goalless draw.

Valladolid climbed out of the Primera Division relegation zone after holding Valencia to a goalless draw at the Jose Zorilla stadium. The hosts had goalkeeper Jaime to thank for keeping the game scoreless despite Valencia's superiority, the veteran stopper repaying coach Juan Ignacio Martino's faith in him by making seven saves and denying Valencia's lively forward Paco Alcacer on several occasions. The result means Valladolid move a point clear of 19th placed Almeria, who lost at Osasuna on Friday, and go level on points with Getafe but move above the Madrid side in the league table due to their superior head-to-head record. Valladolid were hoping to build on their 1-0 win over Almeria the previous week, while the visitors were out to erase the image of their harrowing 3-0 Europa League quarter final first leg defeat to Basle from their minds. But although Juan Antonio Pizzi's side produced a far better display than they managed in Switzerland, they had nothing to show for it, unable to translate their dominance into goals. Alcacer was presented with the first opportunity of the evening with nine minutes on the clock, receiving a cut back from Edu Vargas but denied by the quick reactions of Jaime. At the other end, Dani Larsson failed to take advantage of a poor clearance from 19-year-old defender Ruben Vezo, and saw his shot deflected just wide of goal. Jaime then tipped away a scuffed effort from Vargas just as it was about to cross the line, and in the second half foiled Alcacer again, making himself big as the striker shaped to shoot. The goalkeeper later saved a powerful shot from Fede Cartabia, while his counterpart Vicente Guaita tipped a header from Javi Guerra over the bar, spoiling a rare attack from the hosts. It was Jaime's second consecutive clean sheet, which means he has conceded just two goals in four games since being chosen ahead of former number one choice Diego Marino. And his efforts mean that Valladolid's fate is now in their own hands.