Valencia 2 - Betis 1

Valencia: Cañizares; Caneira, Marchena, Ayala, Carboni (Moretti 88'); Albelda, Baraja; Rufete (Sissoko 83'), Aimar, Fabio Aurelio; Mista (Di Vaio 73'). 4-2-3-1.
Betis: Doblas; Melli, Lembo, Rivas, Luis Fernández; Cañas (Benjamín 55'), Marcos Assunçao, Arzu (Denilson 81'); Joaquín, Edu; Oliveira. 4-3-2-1.

Team changes: Valencia: Cañizares, Ayala, Carboni, Baraja, Rufete, Fabio Aurelio for Palop, David Navarro, Moretti, Sissoko, Fiore, Di Vaio / Betis: No change.

Goals:
0-1. 12. Marcos Assunçao. Bent free kick over wall and in to net past Cañizares.
1-1. 28. Baraja. Got on the end of Fabio Aurelio cross to head over Doblas.
2-1. 72. Mista. Picked up first time pass from Aimar and shot low past keeper.

Valencia returned to winning ways on Sunday night, new manager Antonio López leading them to a 2-1 win over Betis. López had been assistant manager to Rafa Benítez last season, but turned down an offer to move with him to Liverpool, and had been running the club's training school before the chance came for him to take over from the sacked Claudio Ranieri a few days ago. And he immediately turned to the group of players from last season's double winning side, bringing back Aimar and Mista to lead the attack and restoring the double pivot of Albelda and Baraja,

It was the visitors took the lead early on though when Assunçao beat Cañizares with a free kick, the keeper getting a hand to the ball but unable to stop it entering the net. A few minutes later the hosts had a chance to equalise when referee Turienzo Alvarez ruled that Cañas had handled deliberately in the area (even though he appeared to be protecting his face), but Doblas guessed correctly and dived to save Fabio Aurelio's spot kick.

Baraja did level the scores on the half hour mark though, heading Fabio Aurelio's cross wide of the keeper, but Assunçao came close to restoring the lead before the interval with a free kick which hit the crossbar with Cañizares beaten. After the break though it was all Valencia, Doblas saving excellently from Fabio Aurelio and Rufete and Marchena both hitting the post before a quick passing move between Fabio Aurelio and Aimar set Mista up for him to get the winner. Assunçao was sent off immediately afterwards after picking up a second booking for protesting, and it was all over. Valencia move back up above their opponents to fourth place, and life after Ranieri has begun.