Ranieri on the brink
Valencia coach Claudio Ranieri’s job prospects are looking increasingly bleak after a goalless draw at home to Real Zaragoza.
Ranieri was given a vote of confidence after last Sunday’s defeat by Getafe but this latest setback is bound to rekindle speculation.
His side is looking a shadow of the team that won the Primera Liga and the UEFA Cup under Ranieri’s predecessor Rafael Benitez last season.
Athletic Bilbao overcame Villarreal 2-1 to get their league campaign back on track with their first league win in four games.
Either side could have made the breakthrough in the opening period, but a quickfire double from Ismael Urzaiz just after the break gave the hosts an unassailable advantage – despite a reply from Jose Mari.
Deportivo La Coruna were forced to battle all the way to a narrow victory at the expense of surprise packages Levante.
However, a Diego Tristan penalty in the second half was in the end sufficient for Deportivo to take the points.
