Deportivo La Coruña 0 - Valencia 1

Deportivo: Molina; Manuel Pablo (Xisco 78'), Juanma, Coloccini, Capdevila; Duscher, Sergio (Toro Acuña 69'); Víctor, Senel, Munitis; Arizmendi (Diego Tristán 46'). 4-2-3-1.
Valencia: Cañizares; Miguel, Raúl Albiol, David Navarro, Moretti; Albelda, Hugo Viana; Angulo, Aimar (Rufete 86'), Regueiro (Fabio Aurelio 77'); David Villa (Jorge López 93'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Depor: Víctor, Senel, Arizmendi for Héctor, De Guzman, Diego Tristán / Valencia: Albelda, Hugo Viana, Angulo for Baraja, Fabio Aurelio, Rufete.

Goals:
0-1. 22. David Villa. Caught Molina off line with shot from just over half way line.

Valencia gained revenge for their midweek cup defeat with a hard fought win in La Coruña. The only goal of the game arrived midway through the first half and it was a candidate for goal of the season. David Villa spotted Molina off his line and chipped the Argentine goalkeeper from an incredible distance.

Villa was busy as ever and had almost opened the scoring in the ninth minute. But on that occasion Molina did well to push the strike onto the crossbar. Just one minute later Deportivo hit the woodwork too. Victor appeared to do everything right, when he controlled a cross and left Navarro on the deck before his curling shot came back off the post.

Following Villa's spectacular opener Victor had an even better chance to score when Deportivo were awarded a penalty for a handball offence. Victor converted the penalty that took Depor into cup semis during the week but this time Cañizares saved his effort. Victor looked certain to score from the rebound but somehow put it over the bar. To the further amazement of the Valencians, the former Racing star was given a chance to redeem himself as referee Rubinos Pérez decided Cañizares had moved off his line before the kick was taken. However, Valencian protests were soon forgotten when Victor's cautious spot kick was held by Cañizares.

Deportivo replaced Senel with Tristán at half time. Depor's top scorer was to become involved in a series of wrestling bouts with the Valencia defence. There were a number of further penalty claims from the home side. Miguel appeared to put his arms round Tristán in the 67th minute and Navarro was climbing all over the big striker with only ten minutes to go. But Depor failed to create enough clear chances in the second half. Although Tristán clipped a Victor cross just over in the 57th minute and Cañizares saved acrobatically from Arizmendi's well placed header.

Valencia were always dangerous on the counter with Villa accompanied up front by the tricky Pablo Aimar. The Argentine set up his striking partner with eight minutes to go but on this occasion the former Zaragoza hotshot failed to hit the target.

On another night Depor may well have got one of those second half penalty claims. But as the Galicians had been awarded three penalties in as many games against Valencia, the referee may have been reluctant to give any more. Meanwhile, Quique Flores' side have extended their unbeaten league run to eleven matches.