Primera Division: Valencia stay fourth after 1-1 draw against Celta Vigo

Valencia came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo that keeps them fourth with a week of the Primera Division season to go.

Visitors Celta, safe from relegation and playing without pressure, took an eighth-minute lead through Pablo Hernandez but Nicolas Otamendi's equaliser was the least Los Che deserved.

With Sevilla beating Almeria 2-1, it was an important result for Valencia who are a point ahead of the Andalusian side in the race for a place in the Champions League qualifying rounds.

Valencia threatened through Javi Fuego before their opponents scored their early opener, Hernandez heading in Nolito's corner.

Sofiane Feghouli headed Jose Gaya's cross wide and at the other end, Celta's Joaquin Larrivey was also off target.

The teams continue to trade shots, with Celta's Michael Krohn-Dehli and Valencia's Andre Gomes both only just off target from outside the box.

The latter was lost to injury before half-time, Enzo Perez taking his place.

Nolito shot just over and Alex Lopez fired narrowly wide of the right-hand post, while Paco Alcacer twice went close for Valencia but the interval arrived with no further score.

Otamendi's header from Pablo Piatti's cross was saved and Piatti then shot wide of the near post from a tricky angle.

Sergio Alvarez saved from Alcacer and Daniel Parejo had a shot blocked in what turned into a dominant second half for the hosts.

Another Otamendi effort was blocked and fellow defender Shkodran Mustafi fired over, as did Rodrigo De Paul.

But the equaliser came in the 71st minute when Parejo's dipping free-kick bounced awkwardly in front of Alvarez with five players closing in on him, some having come from offside positions. He could only shovel it into the path of Argentina international Otamendi, who had not been offside, and he tapped in from six yards.

De Paul was twice denied a second, with Celta finally threatening in between when Larrivey was unable to steer Nolito's cross goalwards.

Krohn-Dehli shot wide on the counter-attack and Hugo Mallo and Andreu Fontas both tested Valencia keeper Diego Alves, but Celta were unable to find a winner.

Valencia could instead have pinched it late on when substitute Alvaro Negredo nodded the ball down to Alcacer, who could not wrap his foot around the ball to get it on target.