Athletic Bilbao 1 : 1 Valencia - Aduriz denies Valencia

Former Valencia striker Aritz Aduriz denied his old team victory with a last-gasp equaliser at San Mames Stadium.

Aduriz pounced in the 90th minute to secure a share of the La Liga spoils after Valencia had been reduced to 10 men.

Nicolas Otamendi harshly received a straight red card eight minutes earlier for a high challenge, and Valencia were unable to hold out in his absence.

Substitute Rodrigo De Paul had given the visitors a deserved lead 16 minutes into the second period, but even though they were unable to claim maximum points, a draw took them above Sevilla into fourth place in their pursuit of possible Champions League qualification.

Valencia went into the game without suspended skipper Dani Parejo, while injuries sidelined Jose Gaya and Enzo Perez, increasing the visitors' degree of difficulty as they looked to keep the heat on Sevilla.

Valencia drew 0-0 with Athletic at the Mestalla earlier this season, and first-half exchanges proved cagey, with neither side threatening to break the deadlock.

Athletic's Mikel Balenziaga collected a 10th-minute yellow card for a foul, and the opening 45 minutes proved to be a stop-start affair as clear-cut chances were at a premium.

Aduriz followed his team-mate Balenziaga into the referee's notebook, while Valencia's Andre Gomes also collected a caution as half-time approached and after the visitors saw Pablo Piatti depart nursing a hamstring injury, with De Paul replacing him.

Valencia dominated the early stages of the second-half, and some impressive build-up play finally gained its reward when De Paul calmly finished to complete a fine move and leave Athletic trailing.

But Otamendi's dismissal ensured a fraught finale for Valencia, and it was Aduriz who had the last word.