Girondins Bordeaux 1 - Valencia 2

Bordeaux: Ramé; Jemmali (Bruno Basto 71'), Planus, Caneira, Jurietta ; Costa, Celades ; Francia (Feindouno 71'), Mavuba, Riera; Chamakh. 4-2-3-1.
Valencia: Cañizares; Curro Torres, David Navarro, Pellegrino, Garrido (Carboni 74'); Baraja, Marchena (Canobbio 46'), Sissoko; Rufete, Xisco; Oliveira (Mista 69'). 4-3-2-1.

Goals:
1-0. 18. Riera. Wide free kick which bounced past everyone into goal.
1-1. 75. Baraja. Took return pass from Sissoko and shot past Ramé.
1-2. 88. Rufete. Following up after Canobbio's effort came back off post.

Valencia came back from a goal down to beat Bordeaux 1-2 and move close to place in the semi-finals, and a possible meeting with neighbours Villarreal. Rafa Benítez was missing several key players, including the injured Aimar, Vicente, Angulo, Palop and Fabio Aurelio, and lined up with a defensive side which included Marchena as an extra defensive midfield player.

After Morientes had contributed to Real Madrid's defeat two nights before, there was speculation that Bordeaux's two Spanish players, Celades and Riera, could do the same to Valencia. And their fears appeared to be vindicated when Riera opened the scoring early on, his seemingly harmless free kick from wide on the right catching Cañizares off guard expecting a cross.

Bordeaux were left with ten men though when Mavuba was sent off for kicking out at Sissoko on the ground with only half an hour gone, and Benítez brought on the more attacking Canobbio at the break and then Mista for an off-form Oliveira a few minutes later. The French side could have had a penalty though when Chamakh fell under Sissoko's challenge immediately after the restart, but English referee Michael Riley ruled that the striker had dived.

Eventually though the numerical advantage paid off, and Baraja levelled the scores after taking a return pass from Sissoko to beat Ramé. Celades and Chamakh both wasted chances to restore the lead, and with two minutes to go Rufete struck the winner for the visitors after Canobbio's effort came back off the post. Cañizares still had to make a last minute save to keep out a deflected shot from Riera, but the game was in the bag for the Spanish side and they should have no trouble finishing things off next Wednesday in the Mestalla stadium.