Atlético Madrid 1 - Valencia 0

Atlético: Leo Franco; Velasco, Pablo, Perea (García Calvo 30'), Sergi; Luccin, Colsa; Gronkjaer, Jorge (Nuñez 67', Marcelo Sosa 80'), Antonio López; Fernando Torres. 4-2-3-1.
Valencia: Cañizares; Sissoko (Di Vaio 65'), Ayala, David Navarro, Carboni; Albelda, Marchena; Rufete (Xisco 65'), Aimar, Fabio Aurelio (Fiore 82'); Mista. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Atlético: Perea, Jorge for García Calvo, Salva / Valencia: David Navarro for Baraja.

Goals:
1-0. 17. Fernando Torres. Header unmarked down past Cañizares from corner.

Valencia failed to move back in to the Champions League spots after they were beaten 1-0 by Atlético Madrid, who themselves move to just one point of their rivals. Once again it was Fernando Torres who did the damage ,the Spanish international striker coming close to beating Cañizares before getting on the end of an Antonio López corner to head the ball down in to the net. The visiting keeper kept out another effort from Gronkjaer soon afterwards, but his side were unlucky not to be level at the break, first when Mista shot wide and then when referee Iturralde González turned down a penalty appeal after the striker was pulled down by García Calvo.

Mista and then substitute Rufete both tested Leo Franco after the restart, but Torres could have increased the lead when the referee pulled him up for a non existent offside. Xisco saw a shot turned away for a corner and David Navarro headed over, and Di Vaio could have scored near the end when García Calvo blocked his shot (although Iturralde didn't spot that the Italian striker had controlled the ball with his hand). Sissoko and Navarro were lucky to stay on the park, the former after he was a let off a second booking for a foul on Colsa and the latter with a horrendous tackle on Nuñez which resulted in the Uruguayan striker having to leave the field just minutes after coming on. But that was about all, and Atlético are back on track for a return to Europe at last.