Valencia twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
Villa goal earns Valencia a first-leg draw
Valencia twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at home to domestic rivals Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie.
In an entertaining encounter at the Mestalla, Simao Sabrosa struck the post for Atletico in the first half before Diego Forlan put the visitors ahead just before the hour.
Manuel Fernandes drew Valencia level and David Villa then scored an 82nd minute equaliser for the hosts after Antonio Lopez had restored Atletico's lead.
In the opening 15 minutes Valencia went close three times through Spain duo Villa (twice) and Juan Mata, while Atletico also had two good efforts through Alvaro Dominguez and Simao.
Dominguez brought a fine diving save out of Cesar Sanchez from a header while Simao curled a 20-yard effort against the far post with the Valencia goalkeeper beaten.
Both teams continued to fashion opportunities following that frantic start, with Fernandes bringing a save out of David De Gea and Jose Manuel Jurado's shot rolling along the line after squeezing through Cesar's legs.
Entertaining
The match continued to entertain after half-time, and it was Atletico who drew first blood through Forlan.
Cesar was left facing three Atletico attackers following a rapid breakaway and he was helpless as Aguero rolled the ball across for Forlan to tap into an empty net.
Atletico only enjoyed their lead for eight minutes though before Fernandes drew Valencia level with a 25-yard thunderbolt into the bottom corner.
Valencia's hopes of going onto build a first-leg lead suffered another setback in the 71st minute when they fell behind again.
Simao's corner was headed into the six-yard box by Dominguez and the unmarked Lopez was on hand to nod past Cesar.
Like before though, Atletico were unable to hold onto that advantage.
The Rojiblancos enjoyed a let-off in the 74th minute when Bruno Saltor saw his brilliant long-range volley crash back off the crossbar, but there was no escape for Quique Sanchez Flores' men in the 82nd minute.
Jordi Alba played Vicente Rodriguez into the area and the winger pulled the ball back for Villa to fire home a low left-footed shot past De Gea to level the scores up and leave the tie in the balance for the second leg.
