Red Bull Salzburg 1 - Valencia 0

Salzburg: Ochs; Bodnar, Vargas, Linke, Dudic; Pitak, Carboni, Kovac, Jezek (Winklhofer 78'); Janocko (Aufhauser 51'), Zickler. 4-4-2.
Valencia: Cañizares, Curro Torres, David Navarro, Raúl Albiol, Moretti; Albelda, Baraja; Angulo, Regueiro (David Villa 61'), Vicente (David Silva 77'); Morientes. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 72. Pitak. Headed Jezek's centre past Cañizares.

Valencia will have an uphill battle in two week's time after losing the first leg without scoring a single away goal. Although Spanish sides have nearly always won through against Austrian rivals, there was some concern coming in to this match. Their opponents had been in pre-season training far longer (the Spanish internationals for example had only just returned from holiday), and the artificial pitch was another obstacle against a side being rebuilt under Matheus and Trapattoni.

Quique Flores decided he had to include Cañizares in his side despite his lack of training, and within minutes the keeper was in action to stop Janocko as the Austrians dominated the opening play. And Valencia were hardly in the match until near to half time, when Baraja went close and Morientes brought a good save out of Ochs.

Salzburg continued to push forward after the break, and with twenty minutes to go Flores turned to David Villa. But soon afterwards Pitak got on the end of Jezek's cross to steer a header wide of the keeper. Villa did force Ochs in to a couple of spectacular saves later on as the Spaniards finally woke up, but it was already too late as Mattheus ordered his side back to defend. Valencia had lost the first round, and they will have to perk up their ideas in two weeks' time if they are to make it to the league stage.