Basel 2 - Valencia 2

Basel: Zuberbühler; Haas, Murat Yakin, Zwyssig, Duruz; Varela (Rossi 65'), Cantaluppi, Ergic, Esposito (Koumantarakis 85'); Hakan Yakin, Giménez (Tum 60'). 4-4-2.
Valencia: Cañizares; Curro Torres, Ayala, Pellegrino, Fabio Aurelio; Baraja (Marchena 76'), De los Santos; Rufete (Angulo 71'), Mista, Kily González; Juan Sánchez (Carew 80'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 32. Ergic. Took pass from Hakan on edge of area and shot low past Cañi.
1-1. 36. Baraja. Long shot which keeper got his hands to but couldn't stop.
1-2. 72. Curro Torres. Chested down De los Santos pass and poked ball into net.
2-2. 90. Ergic. Got on the end of long free kick to turn ball past keeper.

Group B:
Valencia.................. 10 points
Liverpool................... 7 points
Basel.......................... 5 points
Spartak Moscow.... 0 points

Valencia only need one point from their last two games to ensure themselves of a place in the next phase after drawing 2-2 at Basel. It was a game which both sides dominated at various stages, with a point each probably a fair result. Rafa Benítez was missing the injured Aimar, who had inspired the 6-2 thrashing of their opponents in the last match, and the manager also rested Carboni, Albelda, Vicente and Carew. It was perhaps a show of overconfidence, and they paid the price when Hakan Yakin set up Ergic to beat Cañizares with half an hour gone.

Valencia woke up immediately though, and only a few minutes later Mista failed to connect cleanly when presented with a good chance. However Rubén Baraja made no mistake a minute after with a speculative shot from outside of the area which keeper Zuberbühler could only deflect into his own net.

There was a dangerous moment before the break when a cross from Varela was cut out by Cañizares. However the Spaniards came out strongly after the interval, and "Zubi" did well to push another effort from Baraja wide of the post. The pressure continued, and midway through the half Curro Torres got on the end of a De los Santos pass to score his first goal for his club.

Benítez decided that was it, and took off Baraja. It was a mistake though, as the Swiss still had plenty left and threw everything forward for the last ten minutes. Cañizares had to be on his best form to save from substitutes Tum and Rossi, and his side were left with ten men when Ayala got a second booking five minutes from the end. Then in the last minute it was Ergic again who got on the end of a long free kick from Hakan Yakin to save a point for Christian Gross' side.

Valencia now have to try and get the point they need in their visit Liverpool next week, but if they fail there they have a home match against Spartak Moscow a fortnight later to wrap things up.