Valencia 1 - Osasuna 0

Valencia 1 - Osasuna 0

Valencia: Cañizares; Reveillère, Marchena, Djukic, Fabio Aurelio; Rufete, Albelda, Aimar, Vicente (Carboni 86'); Juan Sánchez (David Navarro 25'), Mista (Angulo 51'). 4-4-2.
Osasuna: Sanzol; Josetxo, Cruchaga, Mateo (Rivero 46'), Antonio López; Puñal, Pablo García (Iván Rosado 46'); Valdo, Gancedo, Manfredini (Moha 59'); Aloisi. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Valencia: Marchena, Djukic, Albelda, Vicente, Juan Sánchez, Mista for Ayala, Pellegrino, Carboni, Angulo, De los Santos, Carew / Osasuna: Antonio López, Puñal, Valdo, Gancedo for Yanguas, Alfredo, Rivero, Iván Rosado.

Goals:
1-0. 08. Mista. Got on the end of Juan Sánchez pass to score.

Valencia held on to fourth spot after a hard fought and at times bad tempered 1-0 win against Osasuna. With Ayala and Pellegrino suspended Rafa Benítez had to put out a makeshift defence, but he was left with ten men after less than a minute when Marchena was sent off for a foul on Aloisi. It could have been worse though, as referee Rodríguez Santiago pointed to the penalty spot before his linesman pointed out that the foul was just outside the area.

Despite their numerical inferiority, Mista gave his side the lead soon afterwards, getting on the end of a Juan Sánchez cross to beat Sanzol at the near post. After that Valencia sat back to defend, and after Valdo had gone close, Benítez decided to bring on B team defender David Navarro to plug the gap.

Driven on by a Gancedo who was making a rare start, Aguirre's side pushed forward, and the manager took a chance bringing on Rivero and Iván Rosado at the break. But although they had several scoring chances they could not get the final touch they needed, and when Moha wasted another chance near the end their challenge ended.

The Pamplona based side have now gone seven games without a win, and they stay just outside of the bottom three, ahead of Alavés and Recreativo on goal difference. Valencia just keep ahead of Celta in the fourth spot, but their Champions League campaign is taking it's toll and they will have their work cut out to hold off the Gallicians for much longer.