By IANS
Madrid : Valencia had the tables turned on them again, losing 1-2 at home to spirited Espanyol, reports DPA.
Just as against Chelsea Wednesday, Valencia took an early lead but then completely lost the plot Saturday.
A win would have put them above Real Madrid to go top, but they now stay in joint second place with Villarreal with 15 points from seven games.
Espanyol, for their part, move up to fifth with 13 points.
“We looked a bit tired tonight,” said Valencia midfielder Carlos Marchena. “We have played many tough games recently.”
Espanyol forward Raul Tamudo said: “We deserved to win, since we never stopped attacking them.”
Valencia went ahead after just five minutes, when Spain veteran Ruben Baraja headed in a David Villa corner. Ten minutes later, though, Villa limped off injured, and the hosts went to pieces without him.
Albert Riera celebrated his first Spain call-up by levelling for Espanyol in the 20th minute. He took a centre from Valdo Lopes, controlled it on his chest and scored with a handsome left-foot volley.
Tamudo hit the Valencia post just before the interval, then had a good penalty claim turned down midway through the second half.
Valencia failed to create any clear chances and – with the Mestalla crowd jeering their own team – Espanyol realised that they could snatch a win.
In the 80th minute, Valdo played through Luis Garcia, who calmly won the match by beating Timo Hildebrand with a low shot.