LaLiga: Valencia held at Alaves to 1-1 before crucial Atalanta visit in Champions League

Barcelona: Valencia were held at Alavés to 1-1 on Friday, four days before it must overcome a big deficit to stay in the Champions League. Valencia’s winless streak on the road reached five consecutive games as it stayed in seventh place in the Spanish league. [caption id=“attachment_8127371” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Valencia captain Dani Parejo. Image: @DaniParejo[/caption] Valencia will host Italian side Atalanta on Tuesday without spectators at Mestalla Stadium for fears of the coronavirus outbreak. Atalanta won the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie 4-1. Midfielder Dani Parejo put the visitors ahead in the 34th minute when he drove a free kick into the top corner of the net for his eighth goal in the competition. After Valencia failed to press for a second goal, Alavés leveled in the 73rd when Edgar Méndez fired in a pass that Víctor Laguardia headed on from a free kick. Alavés climbed to 11th place in the 20-team league. Leader Real Madrid visit Real Betis on Sunday. Barcelona trail Madrid by a point before hosting Real Sociedad on Saturday. Third-placed Sevilla visit fifth-placed Atlético Madrid also on Saturday.