Valencia 2 - Zaragoza 0

Valencia: Palop; Curro Torres, Ayala, Pellegrino, Carboni; Rufete (Vicente 76'), Albelda, Kily González (Ilie 81'); Aimar; Juan Sánchez (Angulo 67'), Salva Ballesta. 4-3-1-2.
Zaragoza: Láinez; Cuartero (Aragón 80'), Rebosio, Pablo, Aguado, Esquerdinho; Ferrón (Galletti 60'), José Ignacio, Garitano; Juanele (Yordi 85'), Bilic. 5-3-2.

Team changes: Valencia: Palop, Aimar for Cañizares, Marchena / Zaragoza: Cuartero, Rebosio, Ferrón, Garitano for Paco, Aragón, Galletti, Vellisca.

Goals:
1-0. 32. Kily González. Shot from wide out which went over Láinez.
2-0. 78. Kily González. Shot from left of area which beat keeper.

Two magnificent goals from Kily González helped Valencia back up into the Champions League spots. Kily struck once in each half with two carbon copy shots, both coming from the left of the penalty area with enough power to beat Zaragoza keeper Láinez. The Argentine winger had just won his place back in the side due to an injury to Vicente midweek, the young Spanish international having to have nine stitches to a head wound received in the UEFA cup match against Slovan Liberec but still taking a place on the substitutes' bench. Rafa Benítez also drafted in Aimar after he had complained about being left out, and Palop took over in goal from the injured Cañizares, who is likely to be out for a month or so with a broken rib. Zaragoza too had their injury problems, and a last minute withdrawal of Vellisca meant that he decided to line up with a five man defence.

Zaragoza did start well, with José Ignacio bringing a good save out of Palop and Bilic heading wide. But after that they disappeared, and Valencia thought they had scored around the half hour mark when Salva got the ball in the net, only for referee Llonch Andreu to disallow the goal for an erroneous offside. Two minutes later though Kily put them in front, and he could have added a second almost immediately with a shot into the side netting. It was more of the same after the break, with Aimar finally getting into full stride, and after the visitors were reduced to ten men when Garitano got a second yellow card, Kily wrapped things up after late substitute Vicente pulled the ball back. Valencia's unbeaten record in all competitions remains intact, and Zaragoza drop down to the lower part of the table once again. They are sadly missing their inspirational midfielder Toro Acuña, and Txetxu Rojo must be glad that he is now close to full fitness again. Without him they are a poor side.