LEEDS, England Leeds United were held to a 0-0 draw by last season's beaten-finalists Valencia here Wednesday in an action-packed first leg of their European Champions League semifinal tie.

Leeds, looking to reach their first European final for 26 years, failed to breach the best defense of the tournament, which has leaked just eight goals in 15 games.

Both teams saw headers hit the woodwork -- Gaizka Mendieta for Valencia and Lee Bowyer for Leeds -- and both had efforts cleared off the line.

Valencia goalkeeper Jose Canizares denied Dominic Matteo and the world's most expensive defender Rio Ferdinand came to Leeds rescue at the other end.

The teams will meet in eastern Spain for the return leg next Tuesday and the winners will meet either holders Real Madrid of Spain or Germany's Bayern Munich in the final at the San Siro in Milan on May 23.

Valencia Coach Hector Cuper was prepared for a physical contest against a team unbeaten in their last 13 premiership matches.

The Argentinian, seeking to reach a record third consecutive European final having led Real Mallorca into the 1999 UEFA Cup final before taking Valencia to last season's Champions League final, made his players use their elbows in training sessions and got them to tug each others shirts in practice games in case things got rough.

Twelve players were walking the suspension tightrope with seven players from Valencia and five from Leeds a yellow card away from a one-match ban.

Several Valencia players were fortified with vitamin injections before the match to relive tiredness, a boost that was to serve the Spaniards well as Leeds went in search of an early goal.

Mauricio Pellegrino fouled Alan Smith to concede a free-kick on the right hand side of the Valencia penalty area after four minutes and Ian Harte fired a curling right foot shot toward the top corner. Fortunately for the visitors Canizares was alert to the danger and tipped the ball over for a corner.

But despite a bright start by the hosts, Valencia almost grabbed a vital away goal in their first attack.

Juan Sanchez shrugged off two challenges and the ball broke kindly for him on the edge of the Leeds area. His right foot cross was met by giant striker John Carew but the Norwegian international's brilliant scissor kick was palmed away by Leeds goalkeeper Nigel Martyn.

With Leeds looking nervous, Valencia pressed forward and when Martyn's weak punch fell to Mendieta the Valencia captain saw his looping header rattle the crossbar.

However, despite being frustrated by the visiting defense, Leeds had their best chance to open the scoring six minutes before half time.

Kewell headed Harte's inswinging free-kick into the six yard box to set up Mark Viduka for an easy chance but Smith, who was not in as good a position as his colleague, went for goal himself and his stooping header flashed wide.

Valencia responded with a speedy counterattack and only a fantastic one-handed save by Martyn prevented Sanchez's thunderous volley from putting the Spaniards in front, AFP reported.

Leeds thought they had scored after 52 minutes when Harte's curling corner was met by Matteo but his thumping header was blocked on the goalline by Canizares.

Valencia defense came under intense pressure as Leeds, roared on by a partisan home crowd, surged forward.

And Smith almost raised the Elland Road roof when he closed in on the Spaniards' goal but with only Canizares to beat, he shot wide from an acute angle.

Ruben Baraja and Amadeo Carboni were booked by Italian referee Pierluigi Collina as tempers became frayed, cautions that will keep both players out of the second leg in Spain.

With 20 minutes to go Canizares needlessly came rushing from his goal to block Smith's shot and the ball spun toward the Valencia goal before bouncing on the edge of the six yard box.

Bowyer rose higher than everybody but watched in agony as his header struck the crossbar.

Carew should have done better when sliced a shot wide with Martyn stranded before Baraja saw his goalbound shot cleared off the line by Ferdinand.