La Liga: Valencia and Athletic draw 0-0, Villarreal held by Elche, Deportivo and Levante share points

Three of La Liga’s matchday-nine games ended in draws on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October, according to LaLiga, AFP and BBC Sport.

Valencia 0 Athletic Club 0: Athletic controlled most of the first half at Mestalla, and Valencia created more after the break. Athletic head coach Edin Terzić called it “a well-deserved point for both sides” and said yellow cards and injuries forced him into several second-half changes, the club reported.

Villarreal 0 Elche 0: Villarreal had 20 shots to Elche’s seven, BBC Sport’s match data showed, but could not beat Elche goalkeeper Matías Dituro. Villarreal coach Iñigo Pérez said the draw “nos sabe a poco” (feels like too little for us). He said it was a game his team had to win and they lacked accuracy in front of goal, the club reported. Villarreal play Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Deportivo La Coruña 1 Levante 1 (Friday): Bil Nsongo put Deportivo ahead in the second half at Riazor. Dani Requena equalised for Levante late on, AFP and LaLiga reported.

Atlético Madrid’s 1-0 win at Espanyol and Barcelona’s 5-2 win at Real Betis are reported separately. The round continues on Sunday in Spain with Osasuna v Racing Santander, Celta Vigo v Alavés, Málaga v Real Sociedad and Real Madrid v Sevilla, according to AFP.