Valencia 3 - Alavés 0

Valencia: Cañizares; Miguel, Ayala, Marchena, Moretti; Raúl Albiol, Baraja (Edu 61'); Angulo, Aimar (Mista 55'), Regueiro; David Villa (Kluivert 79'). 4-2-3-1.
Alavés: Costanzo; Edu Alonso, Gaspar, Sarriegi, Coromina; Carpintero, Astudillo (Juanito 70'); De Lucas (Jandro 58'), Mena, Blago (Bodipo 46'); Nené. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Valencia: Marchena, Aimar for Albelda, Hugo Viana / Alavés: De Lucas, Mena, Blago for Juanito, Bodipo, Aloisi.

Goals:
1-0. 24. Baraja. Controlled Aimar pass on chest and shot low past keeper.
2-0. 32. Aimar. Stabbed shot past Costanzo after Moretti laid ball across.
3-0. 50. David Villa (penalty). After Mena tripped up Angulo inside penalty area.

Second placed Valencia beat Alavés 3-0 on Sunday evening to halt Barcelona's title celebrations, at least for a few more days. A draw or a defeat for the Chés would have meant that Frank Rijkaard's side were uncatchable, but they dominated right from the start, Regueiro and Baraja both going close before David Villa had a goal disallowed for offside. And they took the lead on the half hour mark when Baraja controlled Aimar's pass before beating Costanzo.

Aimar was making his first start since recovering from a mild case of meningitis, and he proved he was back to full fitness with a second goal a few minutes later. And just a few minutes in to the second half David Villa added a third from the penalty spot after Mena had brought down Angulo to make it five wins in a row for his side, the strike taking him to within one goal of Samuel Eto'o for the top scorers' Pichichi trophy. Alavés stay in the relegation spots as a result of their defeat.