Valencia 0 - Maccabi Haifa 0

Valencia: Palop; Garrido, Ayala, Marchena, Carboni; Albelda (Oliveira 73'), Baraja; Vicente, Aimar, Xisco; Mista (Canobbio 63'). 4-2-3-1.
Maccabi: Davidovitch; Keibe, Benado, Ejiafor (Badeer 35'), Harazi; Zano, Britez, Katan (Zandberg 85'), Tal, Rosso; Dante López (Keinen 90'). 4-5-1.

Goals: None.

Valencia's match against Maccabi Haifa kicked off late on Thursday evening, but they were unable to repeat the success of the other three Spanish sides as they were surprisingly held to a 0-0 draw by their opponents. The Israeli's packed their midfield and were able to hold off Rafa Benítez's side for most of the first half, Baraja the only one to come close when he headed over just before the half time whistle.

The second half though was all Valencia, with Carboni firing a free kick against the post and Baraja bringing a good save out of Davidovitch with another header. And from then on the visiting keeper was the star of the match. keeping out efforts from Xisco, Aimar and Vicente amongst others as the shots rained in.

Benítez lost Mista to a knee injury which could keep him out for a couple of weeks or so, with Xisco, given a first start by his manager, switching to striker as Canobbio came on. But even the introduction of last weekend's hat-trick hero Oliveira couldn't change things, and Valencia now have an uphill battle three weeks' from now in the second leg, which will be played in Esmirna in Turkey due to UEFA's ban on playing in Israel.