LaLiga: Gonzalo Melero converts last-minute VAR-awarded penalty to help Levante hold Valencia to 1-1 draw

Valencia were held to a 1-1 home draw by 10-man Levante in LaLiga after the visitors levelled eight minutes into stoppage time with a VAR-awarded penalty on Friday.

Gonzalo Melero converted the last-gasp spot kick to cancel out Rodrigo’s late opener as Europe-chasing Valencia stayed seventh on 43 points from 28 games.

The result left Levante in 12th with 34 points.

Valencia and Levante finished the game at 1-1 draw. Image courtesy: Twitter/@LevanteUDen

Earlier, Granada beat Getafe 2-1 on the second day of play in La Liga after a three-month break due to the COVID-19 crisis.

The lack of recent play made for a slow start at Mestalla, but Valencia dominated and were left to rue missed opportunities at halftime.

They had the clearest chance when Carlos Soler’s shot crashed onto the crossbar in the 29th minute, and came close again as Mouctar Diakhaby’s header hit the post on the stroke of halftime.

The game finally sprung into life in the late stages.

After Levante’s Roger Marti was sent off for a second yellow card in the 74th minute, Valencia went ahead one minute from time when Rodrigo fired home from inside the box.

But Diakhaby brought down Ruben Vezo and what referee Javier Alberola Rojas thought was a free kick just outside the area, was turned into a penalty, which Melero coolly converted, by the VAR.