Valencia 1 - Espanyol 2

Valencia: Hildebrand; Miguel, Alexis, Raúl Albiol, Moretti; Marchena, Baraja; Angulo, David Villa (David Silva 17'), Arizmendi (Joaquín 46'); Zigic (Morientes 62'). 4-2-3-1.
Espanyol: Kameni; Lacruz, Torrejón, Jarque, Chica (Clemente 70'); Valdo, Moisés Hurtado, Lola Smiljanic, Riera (Moha 77'); Luis García, Tamudo (Jonatas 87'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Valencia: Alexis, Zigic for Iván Helguera, David Silva / Espanyol: Lacruz, Chica, Valdo, Moisés Hurtado for Zabaleta, Clemente, Corominas, Angel Martínez.

Goals:
1-0. 05. Baraja. Got above defence to head Villa corner inside near post.
1-1. 20. Riera. Controlled Valdo pass on chest and shot low past Hildebrand.
1-2. 80. Luis García. Ran on to long Valdo pass and struck shot past keeper.

Valencia's run of five league wins in a row came to an end when they were beaten 1-2 by Espanyol. Baraja headed the home side into the lead in the fifth minute from David Villa's corner, and soon afterwards Kameni did well to keep out Villa again. But the Spanish international striker limped off with an ankle injury, and a couple of minutes later Espanyol equalised, Riera celebrating his call up for Spain with a well taken goal after a good team passing move.

After that the visitors were on top, Tamudo hitting the post after Hildebrand could only push out a shot from Riera, and the keeper saving again from Riera before the break. Tamudo almost caught him out with a clever back heel after the restart, and a frustrated Quique Flores completed his three substitutions early in the second half to try and turn things around.

For a brief while it seemed to work, Joaquín testing Kameni again following a long throw. But with ten minutes to go Valdo found Luis García with a long pass allowing the striker to run on and poke a shot past Hildebrand. The win takes Espanyol up to fifth, now only two points behind their opponents, and after losing to Chelsea midweek as well, the home crowd called for the head of their coach at the end.