Valencia end goal drought with Zigic Cup double
Serbian striker Nikola Zigic struck twice in the space of 10 second-half minutes to earn Valencia only their second win since Ronald Koeman took charge of the side at the start of last month.
Real Madrid scrambled a barely deserved last-gasp 1-1 draw away to third division Alicante after midfielder Javier Balboa headed home a free kick in stoppage time to cancel out a second-half penalty from Borja.
Espanyol also had to come from a goal down to claim a 1-1 draw at home to Deportivo Coruna in the night's all-first division clash.
Rescue specialist Ferran Corominas struck three minutes from time to cancel out a first-half freekick from former Espanyol midfielder Sergio.
Alicante, who play in the regionally-based Segunda B, gave Real Madrid several early scares at the Rico Perez but were denied a lead after some sharp saves from keeper Jerzy Dudek, who was making his first competitive appearance of the season.
Real, fielding a largely second-string side but one still full of internationals, fell behind on the hour when Borja sent Dudek the wrong way with his spot-kick after Dutch defender Royston Drenthe had bundled Alvaro over in the area.
Bernd Schuster's side missed several good chances to get back on level terms with Argentine striker Javier Saviola fluffing two close-range opportunities, but Balboa popped up in the area to head home in injury time and spare Real's blushes.
A beleaguered Valencia, beset by internal problems after Koeman's decision to exclude several experienced first-team players for the rest of the season, looked to be in further trouble when striker Inaki Goikoetxea gave Real Union a shock lead on 11 minutes.
But Zigic came to the rescue when he drilled home on the hour and then curled in a classy second from the left side of the area 10 minutes later to score his first goals since joining the club from Racing Santander in the close season.
The return legs are scheduled to be played on Jan. 2.