Madrid  - Spanish crisis club Valencia managed to force a late 1-1 draw at home to lowly Recreativo Huelva but still remain eighth in La Liga.

Valencia - whose players have not been paid since December due to the club's alarming financial situation - have picked up just three points from their last six games.

Unai Emery's depressed team were again without injured Euro 2008 top scorer David Villa and missed his craft in attack.

The disappointing draw leaves Valencia stranded in eighth place, level on 40 points with fellow under-achievers Atletico Madrid.

"Every game is turning out to be a torment for us," said Valencia captain Carlos Marchena, who was sent off 20 minutes from time, with Huelva winning.

Their goal came in the 56th minute, when Javier Camunas got in front of a sluggish Valencia defence and scored with a deft flick.

The once-formidable Valencia defence has failed to keep a clean sheet for 23 games now.

Supersub Pablo Hernandez made it 1-1 six minutes from time with a delightful run and lob, and then veteran Fernando Morientes missed a good chance to score a winner for Valencia.

Later Saturday, second-placed Real Madrid are at cup finalists Athletic Bilbao.

Real are six points behind leaders Barcelona and go to Bilbao in poor heart after being thrashed 4-0 by Liverpool on Tuesday in the Champions League.

The whites will be without injured veterans Fabio Cannavaro and Guti. dpa