Villarreal 0 - Valencia 1

Villarreal: Barbosa; Josemi, Fuentes, Peña (Cygan 39'), Arruabarrena; Cani, Marcos Senna, Josico (Marcos 75'), Matias Fernández; Diego Forlán, Guille Franco (José Marí 75'). 4-4-2.
Valencia: Cañizares, Miguel, Raúl Albiol, Ayala, Curro Torres; Angulo, Albelda, Baraja (Marchena 90'), David Silva (Hugo Viana 80'); David Villa, Morientes (Joaquín 70'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Villarreal: Peña, Matias Fernández for Quique Alvarez, José Marí / Valencia: Ayala, Morientes for David Navarro, Vicente.

Goals:
0-1. 73. Angulo. Scored at second attempt after Baraja header blocked.

Valencia moved up to fifth, within two points of Real Madrid and just behind Zaragoza on goal difference, after beating neighbours Villarreal 0-1 in the last game of Sunday evening. Quique Flores's side had the better of the first half, with David Villa failing to find the target after lobbing Barbosa, and Angulo shooting over when a rebound fell kindly to him.

Pellegrini had left Riquelme in the stands after falling out with the player, but Guille Franco and Cani tried their luck either side of half time. And the man who the coach has already signed to replace Riquelme, Matías Fernández, came close to putting his side ahead with a long shot which brushed the post. However a few minutes later Angulo got what was to prove the only goal of the game, beating Barbosa at the second attempt after Baraja headed on a corner. Valencia had the three points, and their hosts fell to their third defeat in a row.