Valencia 1 - Espanyol 1

Valencia: Cañizares; Reveillère, Ayala, Djukic, Carboni (Fabio Aurelio 60'); Albelda (Angulo 78'), Baraja; Rufete, Aimar, Vicente; Carew. 4-2-3-1.
Espanyol: Toni; Fredson (Morales 69'), Torricelli, Lopo, Soldevilla, David García; Domoraud, De la Peña, Roger (Marc Bertrán 51'); Oscar (Maxi 60'), Tamudo. 5-3-2.

Team changes: Valencia: Djukic, Carboni, Albelda, Rufete, Carew for Marchena, Fabio Aurelio, De los Santos, Angulo, Mista / Espanyol: Domoraud, Fredson for Morales, Maxi.

Goals:
0-1. 09. David García. shot from left of area after Roger passed ball out.
1-1. 61. Baraja. Following up after Carew failed to get on end of Reveillère cross.

Valencia missed out on the chance to close the gap on Real and Deportivo after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Espanyol. Visiting manager Javier Clemente lined up with the same formation as Roma, who had won recently in Mestalla, with three central defenders and Fredson and David García playing as wing backs. The new formation paid off early on, and they surprised their opponents with a goal in the ninth minute from David García after good work by De la Peña and Roger.

Valencia were paying the price for their midweek efforts against Arsenal, and although they pushed forward after the goal they were not able to penetrate a well ordered defence. Eventually though Revellèire played a ball across into the area, and although Carew appeared to be held back as he went for his shot, Baraja nipped in to tuck the ball in to the net. Benítez brought on an extra attacker Angulo, and the league champions went for broke, with referee Pérez Pérez turning down a penalty appeal when Carew was pulled down in the area and Aimar and Rufete both put efforts over the bar.

But Espanyol were desperate for a result, and they held on to move up a place to fifteenth, a point now above the relegation spots. Valencia have now only taken two points from their last four league games, and are now only three points ahead of fifth placed Celta.