Three off in Valladolid draw

Three off in Valladolid draw

Four goals and three red cards marked a competitive game as lowly Valladolid claimed a draw with Athletic Bilbao in the Primera Division.

Batista Nivaldo scored for the home side before being sent off for two yellow-card offences in the 80th minute, just four minutes after substitute Alberto Marcos had been dismissed for his second bookable offence.

Athletic were forced to play for 67 minutes with 10 men after Ustaritz Aldekoaotalora was sent off for a professional foul in a match that also featured nine yellow cards.

The sendings-off should not overshadow a thrilling match where the lead kept changing hands.

The visitors took an early lead through Markel Susaeta and the score remained the same until half an hour from time when Diego Costa levelled.

Nivaldo then gave the hosts the lead in the 76th minute, but Iker Muniain equalised just a minute later.

Neither side would have wanted just one point given their respective positions at different ends of the table, but there was to be no winning goal.

There had not yet been any clear-cut chances when the visitors went ahead after 10 minutes.

Francisco Yeste delivered an outswinging corner from the left which was half-cleared by Pedro Lopez Munoz but Susaeta pounced on the clearance to drill a right-footed shot into the net from 25 yards.

Jonathan Sesma then put a shot over the bar for Athletic but they were then reduced to 10 men following a challenge by Ustaritz on Diego Costa.

Fabian Canobbio then smashed the resulting free-kick against the post as the hosts looked to pull level.

The match was becoming fractious with players on both sides cautioned.

Canobbio put a free-kick over the bar but there were few clear-cut chances in the remainder of the half with Athletic going in a goal up at half-time.

The visitors were then indebted to goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz after he parried Sesma's right-footed shot.

Minutes later and the hosts were level when Diego Costa drilled the ball into the net from the right of the penalty area.

Valladolid then almost went ahead when Iraizoz tipped over Manucho's header from Canobbio's corner, but with a quarter of an hour remaining their pressure paid off when Nivaldo rose to head home from the centre of the area.

However, less than a minute later and Athletic were level.

Marcos was dismissed when he fouled Susaeta who then sent in a free-kick from the right wing which Muniain fired into the top right of the goal.

The hosts were then reduced to nine men after Nivaldo was ordered off for a foul on Aitor Ocio.

Neither goalkeeper was tested again as the match ended in a draw.