Valencia 3 - Elfsborg 0

Valencia: Cañizares; Caneira, Albiol, Marchena, Moretti; Baraja, Albelda; Joaquín (Angulo 80'), Silva, Vicente (Morientes 59'); David Villa (Gavilán 78'). 4-2-3-1.
Elfsborg: Wiland; Mobaeck, Björck, Augustsson, Karlsson; Ilola (Avdic 76'), , Ishizaki, Anders Svensson, Holmen; Keene (Berglund 63'), Mathias Svensson (Alexanderson 69'). 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 06. Vicente. Following up after Wiland saved shot from David Villa.
2-0. 58. Silva. Got above two defenders to head Joaquín cross past Wiland.
3-0. 71. Morientes. Got on the end of Joaquín cross to head down past keeper.

Valencia took a big step towards a place in the league stage of the competition after beating Sweden's Elfsborg 3-0 in the first leg of their qualifying tie. Quique Flores's side dominated from start to finish, and took the lead early on when Vicente finished off after Wiland could only push out an angled shot from David Villa.

The visiting keeper prevented the scoreline from increasing before half time with saves from Villa and Vicente, and Moretti, Vicente and Baraja all went close. But a few minutes in to the second half David Silva got above two defenders to head Joaquín's cross into the net, and with twenty minutes to go Morientes added a third from another Joaquín cross to wrap things up. Valencia's only concern now is Elfsborg's artificial pitch, but the three goal cushion should be enough to prevent any upset.