Spartak Moscow 0 - Valencia 3

Spartak: Cherchesov; Mitreski; Tchuisse, Moisés, Kovtun (Baranov 46'); Khlestov, Kalynychenko, Kebe, Koudriashov; Danishevski (Essien 56'), Bestchastnykh. 1-3-4-2.
Valencia: Cañizares; Curro Torres, Ayala, Pellegrino, Carboni; Albelda, Baraja; Angulo (Juan Sánchez 74'), Aimar, Vicente (Rufete 67'); Carew (Mista 59'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
0-1. 06. Angulo. Controlled Aimar headed pass and slid ball past keeper.
0-2. 71. Mista. Got ahead of defence to turn in Rufete pass.
0-3. 85. Juan Sánchez. Took short pass from Aimar after goalkeeping error.

A comfortable win for Valencia in their second Champions League game against a Spartak Moscow side who have now gone thirteen games in the competition without a victory. Rafa Benítez only made one change from the side which defeated Liverpool the week before, Angulo coming in on the right of midfield for Rufete, who started on the bench.

It proved to be a good decision, as within six minutes of the kick off Angulo had put the visitors in front. The home-grown forward ran on to collect a long pass from Baraja which Aimar headed on, controlling the ball on his chest and slipping his shot past Cherchesov.

Aimar came close to adding a second when his well placed free kick was turned away for a corner by Cherchesov, but Spartak responded, with ex Racing Santander striker Beschastnykh creating some problems for Ayala and company. With half an hour gone a long shot from Kalynychenko almost crept past Cañizares, who eventually stopped it on the line at the second attempt, and at the other end Aimar and then Carew went close.

Spartak manager Oleg Romantsev brought on the more attacking Baranov at the break, and for a short while it looked is if the Russian side would get back in the match as they fired a couple of long shots at Cañizares. However Benítez brought on Mista for the disappointing Carew and then swapped Vicente for Rufete, and almost with his first touch Rufete got round his defender on the right to present Mista with Valencia's second goal.

The Valencia manager was having a good night with his substitutions, and he got it right again when he brought on Juan Sánchez to join Mista up front. Within ten minutes Cherchasov made a good imitation of Aston Villa keeper Enckelman, taking his eye off a slow back pass which ran past him on to the post, and Aimar jumped in to take the rebound and swing it across for Sánchez to make it three.

In the dying minutes Sánchez and then Baraja could have given their side an even bigger win, but then Cañizares made the save of the night to stop Baranov from ruining his clean sheet. It was Valencia's night though, and the win takes them to the top of their group with six points. With Liverpool and Basel drawing in the other group match they already have one foot in the next round.