Valencia 2- Osasuna 1

Valencia: Cañizares; Curro Torres (Juan Sánchez 70'), Djukic, Pellegrino (Marchena 10'), Fabio Aurelio; Rufete, Albelda (Aimar 63'), Baraja, Kily González; Angulo, Mista. 4-4-2.
Osasuna: Unzué; Cruchaga, Contreras, Josetxo, Jusué; Puñal, Lekumberri (Fernando 80'); Alfredo, Sabino (Olarra 32'), Gancedo; Iván Rosado (Aloisi 58'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Valencia: Djukic, Fabio Aurelio, Rufete, Albelda, Baraja, Kily González, Mista for Ayala, Carboni, Marchena, De los Santos, Vicente, Juan Sánchez, Salva / Osasuna: Jusué, Lekumberri, Sabino, Iván Rosado for Yanguas, Palacios, Rivero, Aloisi.

Goals:
1-0. 78. Juan Sánchez. Volleyed ball past keeper after Aimar headed ball back.
1-1. 85. Aloisi. Powerful header down past keeper after corner from right.
2-1. 93. Baraja. Came from behind to head Kily González cross down into net.

A last minute goal from Baraja gave Valencia a narrow 2-1 win over Osasuna to keep them running neck and neck with Madrid at the top of the table. Rafa Benítez's side had been having a bad week after losing to Rayo in the league and then being knocked out of the UEFA cup by Inter Milan, and the manager tried a new combination up front, Angulo and Mista leading the attack. Djukic and Fabio Aurelio came in for the injured Ayala and Carboni, and their worries increased when Pellegrino had to go off with a broken arm after a clash with Sabino in the twelfth minute, Marchena coming on in his more natural central defensive position. As usual Osasuna were tight at the back, and they didn't give anything away until around the half hour mark when a quick Mista free kick put Angulo through, and Josetxo forced him down from behind. To Osasuna's horror referee Esquinas Torres ruled that tackle was illegal, awarding a penalty and sending off the defender. However Unzué guessed right and dived low to save Baraja's spot kick, and Miguel Angel Lotina quickly added another defender Olarra to replace the man sent off.

The patience of the fans was wearing thin as the game rolled on, and Benítez finally brought on Aimar and then Juan Sánchez. Aimar combined with Mista and both nearly got the ball in the net, Unzué blocking the former's shot and Olarra clearing a header from the latter off the line. Osasuna brought on Aloisi, who had been dropped from the starting line up in favour of Iván Rosado, and he broke through only to dawdle too long and allow himself to be caught by Marchena. Play switched to the other end, and Juan Sánchez finally beat Unzué for the opening goal after Aimar headed back a long cross into his path. That seemed to be it, but with five minutes to go Aloisi powered a header down past Cañizares to level the scores. The game went in to injury time, and 'Pipa' Gancedo had a chance to win it for the visitors. But Djukic blocked his shot, and immediately Valencia chased down the other end for Kily González to swing a cross over for 'Pipo' Baraja to make up for his penalty miss with a header on the run past Unzué. The fans went wild, their bad week now behind them, and their team stay second behind Real Madrid on goal average. Osasuna trudged off, their heads down after their third defeat in a row. They have only picked up two points now from their last six games, and they drop to within one place and one point of the relegation zone.