Deportivo gain the upper hand

Spanish King’s Cup: Andres Guardado and Pablo Alvarez netted potentially crucial away goals to give Deportivo Coruna a 2-1 win…

Spanish King's Cup:Andres Guardado and Pablo Alvarez netted potentially crucial away goals to give Deportivo Coruna a 2-1 win at La Liga rivals Valencia in their King's Cup last-16 first leg.

Unai Emery's Valencia side had the better of the early chances at the Mestalla, Joaquin and Juan Mata both sending efforts flashing narrowly over the bar.

Guardado stole in front of defender Hedwiges Maduro two minutes after halftime to steer the ball past Miguel Angel Moya and Alvarez doubled the visitors' lead with a fine run and finish in the 55th.

Substitute David Silva pulled a goal back with a clever flick with 17 minutes left and Depor repelled some late Valencia pressure to maintain the advantage for next week's second leg.

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Third-tier Alcorcon, who dumped Real Madrid out 4-1 on aggregate in the last round, were beaten 3-2 at home to La Liga side Racing Santander.

Defender Christian Fernandez was in the right place to head Racing into the lead at Alcorcon's tiny stadium to the south west of Madrid in the 31st minute.

Second-half strikes from Alex Geijo and Jose Moraton either side of an Inigo Lopez goal gave the visitors an apparently comfortable lead but Borja Gomez netted with two minutes left to keep Alcorcon's slim hopes of causing a second-leg upset alive.

Villarreal were held to a 1-1 draw at struggling second division Celta Vigo in their first leg earlier on Wednesday.

Celta's bright start in driving rain at their Balaidos stadium belied their position of 18th out of 22 in the second-tier standings but they were rocked back by a Villarreal goal in the 12th minute.

Cani sent Giuseppe Rossi clear and the Italian striker finished comfortably past goalkeeper Yoel Rodriguez.

Celta battled bravely against their more skilful opponents and were rewarded a minute before halftime when forward Arthuro Bernhardt headed a Roberto Trashorras free kick past Villarreal keeper Diego Lopez.

Holders Barcelona slipped to a 2-1 home defeat by 2007 winners Sevilla in their first leg at the Nou Camp on Tuesday, Alvaro Negredo netting the winner from the penalty spot after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had cancelled out Diego Capel's opener.