Getafe had an effort ruled out for offside in the first half before the dismissal of Mauro Arambarri after he scythed down Martin Montoya and was given a second yellow card. In a tense affair, Valencia struggled to continue the momentum that they have built up from previous games and were dealt a hammer blow when Markel Bergara sent a rocket into the top corner of the net just after the hour mark.

The battle continued, with 12 yellow cards shown in total in a feisty clash, but Valencia could not find a way through the Getafe back four. The result leaves Valencia five points behind Barcelona, who drew yesterday against Celta Vigo, and only one clear of Atletico Madrid in third, while they have a three point gap ahead of Real Madrid and Sevilla. Getafe, meanwhile, climb to eighth and only two points off the European places.