MADRID — Valencia’s struggles under new coach Gary Neville continued when it had to come from behind to rescue a 1-1 draw in their King’s Cup quarterfinal first leg at home to Las Palmas Thursday.
Former Manchester United and England defender Neville took over at the Singapore-owned club last month after Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked but has yet to land a win in La Liga in six attempts.
Valencia fell behind in the 38th minute at the Mestalla when midfielder Wilfried Zahibo headed the ball past goalkeeper Mathew Ryan and into his own net at a free kick.
Paco Alcacer leveled in the 61st minute with a well-struck shot from just outside the penalty area but the home side was unable to make sustained late pressure count.
Alvaro Negredo fluffed a great chance in the third minute of added time when he failed to connect cleanly with a Jose Luis Gaya centre, leaving Las Palmas with an advantage for next week’s return leg in the Canary Islands.
On Wednesday, holder Barcelona made smooth progress in its bid for a fourth Cup triumph in eight years when it won 2-1 at Athletic Bilbao.
Celta Vigo kept alive its hopes when it held Atletico Madrid to a 0-0 draw in Galicia.
Sevilla, the five-time winner which last lifted the trophy in 2010, hosts second division Mirandes Thursday.
Athletic wonderkid Williams signs new deal
Spanish under-21 international Inaki Williams committed his future to Athletic Bilbao by signing a new five-year deal Thursday.
“Athletic club and Inaki Williams have signed a deal to renew the player’s contract ... until June 30, 2021.
“His buyout clause will be 50 million euros.”
Williams has been a revelation since breaking into the Athletic team last season.
Athletic has maintained a unique transfer policy throughout its 118-year history of only playing players born or brought through academies in the greater Basque country.
Born in Bilbao to a Ghanaian father and Liberian mother, Williams became the first black player to score for the club when he netted against Torino in the Europa League last year.
He also scored in Athletic’s 3-1 Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona in May and has 10 goals in all competitions this season.
A significant increase in his buyout clause is designed to ward off interest from cash-rich Premier League clubs with both Arsenal and Liverpool rumored to be interested in the 21-year-old. — Agencies
