Valencia 0 - Barcelona 1

Valencia: Cañizares; Angloma, Ayala, Djukic, Carboni; Mendieta, Albelda, Baraja (Kily González 62'), Vicente; Juan Sánchez (Angulo 46'), Carew. 4-4-2.
Barcelona: Reina; Reiziger, Frank De Boer, Abelardo, Cocu; Guardiola, Gerard; Simao, Rivaldo, Luis Enrique; Kluivert (Overmars 88'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Valencia: Ayala, Juan Sánchez for Pellegrino, Ilie / Barcelona: Reiziger, Gerard, Luis Enrique for Gabri, Petit, Overmars.

Goals:
0-1. 06. De Boer. Speculative shot from 30 metres which bent away from keeper.

Barcelona ended Valencia's unbeaten home record just three days short of a year to move ahead of them in the league table and up to third place. It was a bad tempered match, with referee López Nieto producing eleven yellow cards and sending off a player from each team either side of the break, Luis Enrique getting his marching orders just before half time and Carboni following him shortly after. An uncharacteristic performance too from Barcelona, who fought for every ball and came out prepared to break down Valencia's free flowing play with whatever means they could, a far cry from their habitual open attacking football. Serra Ferrer made two forced changes to his side, missing the ex Arsenal pair, the suspended Petit and the unfit Overmars (who we are reliably informed are referred to in some circles as 'my little pony' and 'the cloghead midget'). With Sergi still injured, the more experienced Reiziger was preferred at right back in place of youngster Gabri, and Gerard and Luis Enrique came back to the side.

The unfortunate Ilie injured himself in training again and is likely to be out for another six weeks, and so Héctor Cúper brought back Sánchez alongside 007 John Carew (to quote his website). With Pellegrino banned, Ayala came in to the middle of the back four, and he was to feature in an incident with Simao in the first half which has filled the sports papers with divided opinions over the next two days, the Argentinian first pushing over the Portuguese winger in the penalty area and then treading all over him (accidentally?) as he fell backwards, leaving Simao writhing in agony. The incident provoked a near riot amongst the players, and although no penalty was given and Ayala was not booked at the time (he already had one yellow card), the disciplinary committee has opened an investigation in to the facts. A little later on Ayala had to leave the field temporarily with blood streaming from a cut above his eye after going in to a tackle with a Barcelona player, and after that tackles were hard and high, with López Nieto awarding no less than 58 free kicks, around one every 93 seconds.

Barcelona opened the scoring in the sixth minute, a speculative shot from 30 metres out by Frank De Boer catching Cañizares wrong footed (and presumably unsighted). Valencia went close through Carew, Baraja and Sánchez, but they were missing the scourge of Barcelona, Piojo López (now with Lazio), and didn't take their chances as he did last season. With Reina growing in confidence and Abelardo and De Boer commanding the penalty box, Cúper went for the more all round play and speed of Angulo, taking off Sánchez at half time. The young forward almost got through on a couple of occasions, and was unlucky to be ruled offside when free in front of goal, cameras later showing that the decision was incorrect.

At the other end Kluivert almost caught out Cañizares again with a snap-shot which went just wide, and Guardiola struck the bar with a free kick. Kily González came on for Valencia and caused a few problems near the end, but Barça were not going to let this one get away, and played out the remaining minutes comfortably. They have now gone fourteen games without defeat in all competitions, and although they disappointed in their cup tie with second division B side Torrelavega midweek, they went through to the quarter finals where they will play city neighbours and cup holders Espanyol. Valencia's crisis is getting more serious after losing to Deportivo last week as well, and they need a result next weekend at home to Real Madrid to get back on track. Otherwise the much criticised Cúper may well decide to pack it all in and move on. Was that an Italian phrase book we saw in his pocket?