Valencia claim 2-1 derby win over Levante

Champions Valencia extended their unbeaten run to eight matches after second-half strikes from Ruben Baraja and Mista helped them to a 2-1 win over city rivals Levante in the Primera Liga on Saturday.

Baraja put Valencia in front when he nodded home 10 minutes after the break and Mista doubled the home side's lead five minutes later after his close-range header was controversially ruled to have crossed the line.

Levante substitute Edwin Congo made for an exciting finish when he pulled a goal back 17 minutes from time but it was not enough to stop Valencia claiming the honours in the first league derby between the teams in 40 years.

The win took Claudio Ranieri's side within seven points of leaders Barcelona, who have a tricky fixture at Villarreal on Sunday.

Real Madrid, who make the short trip across the Spanish capital to play Atletico on Sunday, are three points further back in third.

Fourth-placed Sevilla missed the chance to consolidate their position in the upper reaches of the table when they were held to a 0-0 draw by unfancied Getafe.

The Andalucians, who have not lost at home this season, rarely threatened against their modest visitors who enjoyed the better of the match and were only denied a win by some outstanding goalkeeping from Esteban.

Athletic Bilbao spurned a chance to move into the European places as they were held to a 1-1 draw at bottom club Numancia.

Asier del Horno's first-half header was cancelled out when Luis Tevenet scored with a 30-metre drive after the break to earn the home side a valuable point.

Valencia dominated the first half at the Mestalla but it was Levante who enjoyed the best chance when midfielder Felix Etienne fired wide after bursting into the area following a slick counter-attack.

The home side finally took the lead 10 minutes after the interval following some great work by right winger Rufete.

The midfielder won the ball on the halfway line, exchanged passes with Mista and raced down the right flank before dinking a perfect cross to Baraja whose powerful header into the ground flew up into the net.

Five minutes later Mista made it 2-0 when the referee awarded a goal after keeper Luis Mora had appeared to scramble his header off the line.

Congo narrowed the lead by bundling home an Etienne cross in the 73rd minute but the visitors lacked the firepower to put the finishing touch to a couple of half-chances late in the match.