Villarreal 1 - Valencia 0

Villarreal: Barbosa; Javi Venta, Quique Alvarez, Peña, Arruabarrena; Marcos Senna, Tacchinardi; Cazorla, José Marí (Guayre 36'), Riquelme (César Arzo 90'); Figueroa (Roger 81'). 4-2-3-1.
Valencia: Cañizares; Miguel, Ayala, Marchena, Carboni; Albelda (Kluivert 88'), Baraja; Angulo (Mista 81'), Aimar, Vicente; David Villa. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Villarreal: Barbosa, Peña, Marcos Senna, Cazorla, Figueroa for Viera, Gonzalo Rodríguez, Josico, Sorín, Diego Forlán / Valencia: Marchena, Carboni, Angulo for Raúl Albiol, Moretti, Kluivert.

Goals:
1-0. 24. Figueroa. Fired shot past Cañizares after Senna pass came off Ayala.

Villarreal returned from their midweek Champions League exploits in Lisbon to record another single goal victory. Valencia were the victims in this derby at the Madrigal.

The home side scored with their first clear sight of goal midway through the opening half. José Marí challenged Ayala for a high ball on the edge of the box. The Argentine defender only succeeded in nodding it into the path of Figueroa who made no mistake with a composed finish.

Valencia had had the better chances in the early stages with Angulo shooting into the side netting after 11 minutes. Vicente looked lively on the left and just failed to pick out a white shirt after a tricky run into the penalty area in the 16th minute.

José Marí almost made it two before going off injured. The former Spanish international hooked a dangerous Riquelme free kick just wide of Canizares' left upright.

Although not lacking attractive attacking players, Villarreal again demonstrated the ability to deny opponents pace, a tactic that is making them hard to score against, as the likes of Manchester United and Benfica have recently found out. Valencia created more chances second half but couldn't make the breakthrough. Aimar burst into life around the hour mark. Firstly, he put Villa through on goal but Barbosa saved. A few minutes later the goalkeeper had to look lively again to deny Miguel after Aimar had waltzed past his defence.

Ten minutes from time Barbosa made a double save after an Aimar cross caused panic in the Villarreal rearguard. But it was never one way traffic in an entertaining if ultimately low scoring derby. Cazorla had a fine game and almost sealed the victory after a defensive slip with five minutes remaining. He was denied but Villarreal held on to record another narrow win.