Valencia 0 - Atlético Madrid 1

Valencia: Cañizares; Reveillère, Ayala, Marchena, Carboni; Baraja, De los Santos (Carew 75'); Angulo (Juan Sánchez 81'), Aimar, Vicente (Kily González 60'); Mista. 4-2-3-1.
Atlético: Esteban; Contra, Coloccini, Hibic, Sergi; Albertini (Movilla 82'), Emerson; Aguilera, Jorge (Correa 67'), Stankovic (Dani 62'); José Mari. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Valencia: Marchena, Baraja, Aimar, Vicente for Pellegrino, Albelda, Kily González, Carew / Atlético: Sergi, Aguilera, Stankovic for Carreras, Luis García, Fernando Torres.

Goals:
0-1. 72. Aguilera. Came from behind to head past keeper from Albertini corner.

Valencia drop to third in the table after they were defeated 0-1 by Atlético Madrid. Once again Rafa Benítez rested several of his key players for their midweek European date, giving Mista the striker's role alongside Aimar, with Pellegrino, Albelda, Rufete , Kily and Carew all sitting it out. The visitors were missing the injured Fernando Torres and the suspended Luis García, and José Mari took over the striker's role, with Stankovic and Aguilera returning on the two flanks.

The chances were few and far between in the first half, with Mista getting ahead of the defence but shooting over, and Cañizares saving from a José Marí header. Atlético were looking the better side before the break, but the home side rallied in the second half, with Aimar sending a free kick just over the bar, Vicente shooting across goal and Esteban catching a bouncing Mista header at the second attempt. A mix up though between Carboni and Cañizares gifted the visitors a corner, and Aguilera can from behind to head Albertini's kick into the net.

Benítez threw on reinforcements, and Baraja headed against the crossbar. In the dying minutes Juan Sánchez had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Medina Cantalejo after he was bundled over in the area, but José Marí almost got a second goal for his side when he broke away only to see his effort saved by Cañizares. Atlético move up into the UEFA cup spots, level with fifth placed Celta pending Sunday's games.