Valencia 2 - Levante 1

Valencia: Cañizares; Curro Torres, David Navarro, Caneira, Moretti; Baraja, Marchena; Rufete (Angulo 83'), Fiore (Xisco 89'), Aimar; Mista (Corradi 80'). 4-2-3-1.
Levante: Mora; Pinillos, Jesule, Culebras, Alexis; Ettien, Celestini, Rivera, Jofre (Nacho 68'); Sergio García (Congo 68'), Manchev (Reggi 85'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Valencia: Marchena, Rufete for Xisco, Angulo / Levante: Jesule, Sergio García for Descarga, Nacho.

Goals:
1-0. 55. Baraja. Header down past Mora from Rufete's chipped cross.
2-0. 60. Mista. Forced ball into net on far post from Fiore's free kick.
2-1. 73. Congo. Got ahead of Navarro to head Ettien's cross into empty net.

Valencia consolidated their second place in the league with a 2-1 win over city neighbours Levante, closing the gap with leaders Barcelona to seven points. It was the first meeting between the two sides in the first division in forty years, and a packed Mestalla stadium watched the locals dominate the early minutes, Mista in particular testing Mora a couple of times in the visiting goal. But Bernd Schuster's side gradually found their confidence, and Ettien, Rivera and Jofre all went close as the visitors came forward either side of half time.

Valencia took the lead though ten minutes in to the second half, Rufete making himself enough room down the right wing to find the head of Baraja. And five minutes later Mista made it two in controversial circumstances, referee Teixeira Vitienes allowing his headed goal to stand even though visiting keeper Mora appearing to stop the ball before it crossed the line.

The incident unsettled the visitors, and Aimar almost got a third goal when Mora touched his long shot onto the crossbar. But Schuster (serving out the second of a two match ban) gave orders from the stands to bring on Congo and Nacho, and Congo got in front of Navarro to head Ettien's cross into an empty net soon afterwards. There were a few nervous moments for Ranieri after that, but in the end his side held on to extend their undefeated run to eight games. Levante have not won once though in the same period, and they find themselves heading slowly down towards the danger zone.