Valencia and Deportivo La Coruna are still searching for their first Primera Division win of the season after playing out a 1-1 draw at the Mestalla stadium on Sunday.

Lucas Perez fired Deportivo in front with a spectacular long-range strike on 38 minutes, but their lead lasted only seven minutes as Alvaro Negredo rifled home from close range just before half-time to restore parity.

Hosts Valencia were reduced to 10 men late on as defender Antonio Barragan was sent off after receiving two yellow cards.

Negredo was set up by Rodrigo De Paul with 20 minutes gone but the former Sevilla and Manchester City man shot narrowly wide.

Lucas then fired Deportivo into the lead in the 38th minute with a superb long-range strike that silenced the majority of supporters assembled inside the Mestalla.

The midfielder, who joined permanently after a successful loan spell at the Estadio Riazor last season, cut inside from the right flank and unleashed an unstoppable left-foot shot from just outside the penalty area that nestled into the corner as goalkeeper Mathew Ryan dived helplessly.

But their lead would last only seven minutes as Negredo atoned for his earlier miss with an close-rage equalizer on the stroke of half-time.

The Spain international showcased his predatory instincts by peeling away at the far post to smash a knock-down header from Santi Mina’s cross past visiting keeper German Lux.

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Danilo Barbosa had a glorious chance to put Valencia in front early in the second half but he could only head onto the crossbar from point-blank range at the far post after Rodrigo De Paul’s free-kick was headed back across goal.

Jonathan Rodriguez, on for Juanfran, slotted past Ryan with 10 minutes left but referee Jose Gonzalez correctly disallowed the goal after the Uruguay international forward had fouled Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi in the build-up.

Valencia were forced to finish the game a man down when right-back Barragan was dismissed after picking up two yellow cards in quick succession but Deportivo could not profit and were therefore forced to settle for a share of the spoils.