BARCELONA (AFP) - Goals in the last 15 minutes from Nicola Zigic and David Silva helped Valencia salvage a 2-2 draw at Real Zaragoza on Saturday.

"This team showed great spirit. When you are losing 2-0 and then come back to draw it's because the players have pride but we have still got to improve our football," said Valencia coach Ronald Koeman.

The fact remains that Valencia have slipped from being championship contenders at the beginning of November when Koeman took charge to seventh place after going five La Liga games with a win.

Valencia had to dig deep after first half errors by their third choice goalkeeper Juan Luis Mora left the home side two up at the break.

Diego Milito put Zaragoza in front from the penalty spot after 18 minutes, the Argentine striker's ninth goal of the season, after Mora had brought down Ricardo Oliveira in the area.

Things went from bad to worse for Mora, playing in his first league game for two seasons, after 30 minutes when he pushed a Sergio Garcia pass into his own net.

Zaragoza nearly went further ahead just before the break when Oliveira found the net with a header.

However, the Brazilian's goal was disallowed because after he apparently fouled Spanish international defender Carlos Marchena.

Zigic then got one back after 76 minutes, the giant 2.02m Serbian striker leaping head-and-shoulders above the Zaragoza defence to head home an Angel Arizmendi cross.

The goal, Valencia's first in the league in five games, ignited the 2002 and 2004 Spanish champions.

Silva forced a draw with a blistering left foot shot from just inside the area four minutes from time.

Arizmendi almost made it a night even more memorable for Valencia, hitting the post in injury time.

Sevilla's put their faltering La Liga form behind them, in sharp contrast to their Champions League exploits, to beat Racing Santander 4-1 later on Saturday.

Malian striker Fredi Kanoute warmed for next month's African Nations Cup when he got Sevilla's first goal after 25 minutes, firing into an open net from close range after a perfect pass from Daniel Alves.

Ezekiel Garay equalised for Racing with a header from a Jorge Lopez corner four minutes after the break.

Ernesto Chevanton, who had only been on the pitch for five minutes, then put Sevilla back in front with a rasping right foot free kick from just outside the area after 66 minutes.

Garay picked up his second yellow card 12 minutes from time and the absence of the imposing Argentine international defender allowed Jesus Navas and Adriano to add to Sevilla's tally in the final five minutes.

Getafe continue to rise up the table with an impressive 2-0 win at Almeria, thanks to goals from Lucas Licht and a late header from on-loan Real Madrid player Ruben De La Red.

The highlight of this weekend's Spanish football is without doubt the clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid on Sunday, one of the world's great derbies.

Adding extra emotion to the game in Barca's Nou Camp is the fact the two teams are first and second in La Liga.

Real have 38 points from 16 matches and a four-point lead over their traditional rivals but Barca will be defending a 100 percent home record this season.

"Winning in the Nou Camp will be a Christmas present for all the team, " said Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster on Saturday.

"We are going there as the leaders but my experience is that in these sort of matches, the league position means nothing," added the German coach who played for both clubs.

Schuster could name an unchanged side for a third successive game although he may opt for Gabriel Heinze at left back, in place of the Brazilian teenager Marcelo, now that the Argentine international is fit again.

Sadly, Barca will have to do without their inspirational Argentine winger Lionel Messi - who scored a hatrick in last season's 3-3 draw - as he tore a muscle in his left thigh during the 3-0 win over Valencia last weekend.

At least Barca coach Rijkaard has French international Thierry Henry at his disposal again after almost a month out of action with back and pelvic problems.