Villarreal 3 - Valencia 1

Villarreal: Reina; Javi Venta, Gonzalo Rodríguez, Peña, Arruabarrena; Josico, Marcos Senna; Héctor Font (Sorín 71'), Guayre (José Marí 73'), Riquelme; Diego Forlán (Cazorla 90'). 4-2-3-1.
Valencia: Cañizares (Palop 71'); Carboni, Caneira, Ayala, Moretti; Albelda, Marchena; Rufete (Juanlu 07', Di Vaio 46'), Aimar, Fiore; Mista. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Villarreal: Arruabarrena for Armando Sá / Valencia: Caneira, Fiore, Mista for Baraja, Xisco, Corradi.

Goals:
1-0. 17. Riquelme (penalty). After Caneira pushed Forlán inside the area.
2-0. 45. Riquelme. Ran through and fired strong shot past Cañizares.
2-1. 92. Aimar (penalty). After referee ruled that Gonzalo had handled deliberately.
3-1. 94. Riquelme (penalty). Following foul by Marchena on Cazorla.

Valencia lost ground on the two leaders after they were beaten 3-1 by neighbours Villarreal on Sunday evening, their first defeat in ten games. The hero of the night was Juan Román Riquelme, who did a great favour for his old side Barcelona by scoring a hat-trick, which included two penalties on a night where referee Iturralde González awarded no less than four.

The first came with just over a quarter of an hour on the clock for a push on Diego Forlán by Caneira, who minutes earlier had hit the post at the other end. Riquelme beat Cañizares from the spot at the second attempt after referee Iturralde made him retake the kick, and added a second individualist goal on the stroke of half time, the keeper getting a hand to his swerving shot but unable to stop it entering the net.

Inspired by Riquelme, the locals continued to attack after the restart, Guayre and Forlán each going close on a couple of occasions. Cañizares had picked up a knock earlier on and had to leave the field, and his replacement Palop was also called into action to stop an effort from Sorín. Valencia had a chance to pull one back though after Iturralde gave them a penalty for a foul by Peña on Ayala, but Reina dived to save the spot kick from half time substitute Di Vaio.

With the game already in injury time the visitors were awarded a second penalty, Gonzalo Rodríguez rather harshly given a second yellow card and a subsequent red after the ball hit him on the arm at point blank range as he charged down Aimar's overhead kick. Aimar converted the kick himself, but only a minute later there was another penalty at the other end after Marchena tripped Cazorla, Riquelme stepping up to beat Palop and earn himself the match ball.