Real Madrid 1 - Valencia 0

Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Cannavaro, Metzelder, Marcelo (Miguel Torres 71'); Guti, Gago; Robben, Van der Vaart (Palanca 55'), Drenthe (Raúl 46'); Higuaín. 4-2-3-1.
Valencia: Renan; Miguel, Raúl Albiol, Marchena, Del Horno (Maduro 62'); Baraja (David Silva 61'), Albelda, Manuel Fernandes; Joaquín, David Villa, Mata (Vicente 74'). 4-3-3.

Team changes: Madrid: Marcelo, Robben, Van der Vaart for Sergio Ramos, Sneijder, Raúl / Valencia: Del Horno for Moretti.

Goals:
1-0. 03. Higuaín. Picked up Robben pass and struck angled shot wide of Renan.

Yellow cards: Del Horno 20', Salgado 26', Marchena 29', 66', Marcelo 30', Albiol 68', Robben 82', Palanca 87' / red cards: Marchena 66'.

Real Madrid beat Valencia 1-0 on Saturday evening to move to within a point of their opponents in the table. Higuaín got the only goal of the match in the third minute after a good run by Robben, but Juande Ramos's side could have scored more, Van der Vaart hitting the post later in the first half.

The visitors had their chances as well though, with Mata firing a free kick wide, Villa bringing good saves out of Casillas either side of half time and also missing a sitter shortly before half time. Casillas pushed a Baraja header on to the post after the restart, but Higuaín hit the crossbar soon afterwards.

Valencia were left with ten men though when Marchena picked up a second booking, and Guti should have wrapped things up when he fired a shot over the bar late on with only the keeper to beat.