Zaragoza 0 - Valencia 1

Zaragoza: Láinez; Komljenovic, César, Paco, Pablo; Galletti (Corona 68'), Aragón (Garitano 78'), José Ignacio, Vellisca; Drulic (Jamelli 78'), Milosevic. 4-4-2.
Valencia: Cañizares; Curro Torres, Ayala, Pellegrino, Carboni; Albelda, De los Santos; Rufete, Aimar (Juan Sánchez 74'), Kily González (Vicente 80'); Salva (Carew 60'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Zaragoza: Galletti for Juanele / Valencia: No change.

Goals:
0-1. 17. Rufete. Header into back of net after Salva nodded back Kily corner.

Valencia did it again. Their fifth 1-0 victory of the season was enough for them to hold on to their place at the top of the first division, still one point ahead of Real Madrid. Having rested many of his key players in the midweek UEFA cup match in Geneva, Rafa Benítez returned to the same line up he had used the week before in the victory over Barcelona, with Aimar now firmly established in the side. His opposite number Luis Costa only made one change, with Galletti coming in for Juanele on the right wing. The caretaker manager has built his side around his twin Yugoslav strikers Milosevic and Drulic, with high balls into the area to try and take advantage of their size. The tactic seemed to be paying off as they put pressure on Cañizares' goal early on, although Kily González almost caught Láinez out at the other end with a centre-come-shot. Valencia were always dangerous on the breakaway though, and after winning a corner on one rapid excursion into their opponents' half, Rufete gave them the lead after Salva headed back Kily's corner. It was the midfielder's seventh goal of the season in all competitions, making him the team's top scorer together with Salva.

Soon afterwards Drulic generously passed the ball to Vellisca when he could have scored himself but the midfielder shot just wide, and Milosevic struck the ball straight at the keeper when left with space after the break. Gradually though Valencia took charge, and some disappointed home fans knew what was to come and left the stadium with a quarter of the match still remaining. After that they only had one real shot at goal, an effort from Kolmjenovic which went wide, and Cañizares was able to comfortably pick up his third clean sheet in four games to take him level with Prats at the top of the Zamora chart. Valencia's win means they have now taken seventeen points from their last seven games, and they must now be considered one of the strong favourites for the league title. Zaragoza though drop to within two points of the relegation zone, and the few remaining fans booed their players off at the end.