Lille 1-1 Valencia

Lille had enjoyed the better of the proceedings for most of the night against a weakened Valencia side, but they looked set to end up empty-handed after substitute Juan Manuel Mata put the visitors ahead in the 78th minute.

However, the home side managed to get back on level terms eight minutes later when their own supersub Gervinho broke through to slot home, earning his side the point that was the least the French outfit deserved.

Despite starting with a host of fringe players, Valencia began well and inside the opening 10 minutes Nikola Zigic saw a shot tipped wide by Lille goalkeeper Ludovic Butelle before the unmarked Joaquin smashed a thunderous shot against the crossbar from the right-hand side of the area.

Lille quickly found their feet though and the Spaniards received a triple let-off midway through the half when Robert Vittek, Eden Hazard and Stephane Dumont all missed chances.

Vittek was the first to threaten, showing a clean pair of heels to Hedwiges Maduro near the halfway line, but he was denied firstly by a vital sliding tackle by Jeremy Mathieu, and then by Valencia goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez.

Hazard was also denied by Cesar two minutes after being left unmarked at the far post, before Lille captain Dumont blazed another good chance wide following a free-kick.

Lille thought they had finally got the breakthrough on the half-hour mark after Valencia defender David Navarro put the ball over his own line under pressure from Dumont, but the goal was ruled for an incident in the build-up.

The home side were unable to make the most of their chances before the break, but they continue to cause Valencia problems in the second half with Florent Balmont and Ludovic Obraniak both bringing parries out of Cesar.

Lille almost shot themselves in the foot in the 65th minute though when a poor defensive header eluded Butelle, but Zigic could not reach the ball and Rudi Garcia's side enjoyed a let-off.

Aside from that incident though, Valencia had created precious little going forward in the second half, which is why it must have come as a hammer blow to Lille when Mata put the Spanish side ahead.

The Spain international had only been on the pitch two minutes after replacing Jordi Alba but he quickly made his mark on the game, picking up a through-ball from Joaquin before slotting a left-footed shot past former Valencia custodian Butelle.

That looked set to earn Valencia the spoils, but Lille had other ideas and Gervinho took advantage of a blocked clearance to race through a slot home a deserved equaliser through Cesar's legs.