In an entertaining match at the Mestalla, Valencia came from 2-1 down to defeat Sevilla 3-2 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final. David Villa opened the scoring for the hosts on five minutes after pouncing on Adriano Correira’s mis-placed back-pass but Sevilla hit back after the break with goals from Luis Fabiano (52) and Correira (67) putting the visiting side in command.
Valencia, though, struck twice in the final six minutes to earn victory, Rubén Baraja drawing them level before Juan Mata struck the winner off a deflection with four minutes to play.
FC Barcelona were held to a goalless draw against RCD Espanyol in the night’s other match in new Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino’s first game in charge. The two other quarter-final first legs will be played on Thursday, when RCD Mallorca host Real Betis Balompié and Athletic Bilbao are at home to Real Sporting de Gijón.
