Valencia 2 - Racing Santander 0

Valencia: Palop; Curro Torres (Caneira 66'), David Navarro, Marchena, Moretti; Albelda, Sissoko; Fiore, Angulo (Mista 52'), Vicente (Xisco 73'); Corradi. 4-2-3-1.
Racing: Dudu Aouate; Juanma, Oriol, Pierini, Pedro López; Parri, Nafti (Matabuena 71'); Morán (Aganzo 38'), Benayoun, Regueiro; Arizmendi (Moratón 46'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Valencia: Palop, Moretti, Sissoko, Fiore, Angulo for Cañizares, Carboni, Baraja, Rufete, Di Vaio / Racing: No change.

Goals:
1-0. 25. Vicente. Free kick from outside area which took deflection off defender.
2-0. 45. Fiore. Turned ball past keeper after Vicente passed in from by-line.

Valencia held on to top spot, just ahead of Barcelona thanks to the higher number of goal scored after a comfortable 2-0 win over Racing Santander. Once again Vicente was the star of the match, the Spanish international scoring the first goal from a free kick which took a deflection off the defensive wall to wrong foot Aouate. The keeper was in action a few minutes later to tip a Corradi header over the bar as the home side piled on the pressure looking to add to their lead.

Racing suffered a blow close to half time when Oriol was sent off for a second bookable offence, and a couple of minutes later Valencia went two up when Vicente ran through to the by-line and crossed back for Fiore to score his first official goal for the Chés.

After that the locals sat back to control the match and save energy for their midweek champions' league match in Bremen. Even so they could have increased their lead, Corradi shooting over the bar, Albelda dribbling through but unable to find the target and Sissoko sending another effort wide right at the end. Substitute keeper Palop, standing in for the rested Cañizares, was only in action a couple of times, and that was from two players on loan from Valencia, Pedro López and Parri.