Sevilla 1 - Valencia 0

Sevilla: Palop; Daniel Alves, Javi Navarro, Escudé, David; Renato, Jordi; Jesús Navas, Jesuli (Fernando Sales 46'), Antonio Puerta (Kanouté 69'); Luis Fabiano (Saviola 58'). 4-2-3-1.
Valencia: Cañizares; Miguel, Ayala, David Navarro, Moretti; Jorge López (Hugo Viana 80'), Raúl Albiol, Baraja, Regueiro (Rufete 78'); David Villa, Mista (Aimar 58'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Sevilla: Escudé, Jordi, Jesús Navas, Jesuli, Antonio Puerta, Luis Fabiano for Dragutinovic, Fernando Sales, Martí, Adriano, Saviola, Kanouté / Valencia: Ayala, David Navarro, Jorge López, Regueiro for Marchena, Albelda, Angulo, Aimar.

Goals:
1-0. 92. Jordi. Steered header wide of Cañizares from Saviola long pass.

Fourth placed Valencia lost ground on the top three, a last minute1-0 defeat at Sevilla taking their run without a win to six games. After the midweek round of games both coaches made several changes, with Jesuli getting a rare start in the local line up and Ayala returning after a three month injury for the visitors. Jorge López also got his first start for several months in the Valencia side.

Cañizares was in action early on to keep out a Luis Fabiano free kick, but Mista shot just wide at the other end under pressure from Palop after David Villa put him through. Most of the attacks after that though came from the home side, with Luis Fabiano bringing another save out of Cañizares and Jesuli and Navas shooting wide either side of half time.

With a quarter of an hour to go though substitute Saviola burst through in to the area, and an Ayala short of match practise brought him down. Referee Turienzo Alvarez had no hesitation producing a red card for the defender and pointing to the spot, but for the third time in two games Sevilla were unable to convert, this time Jordi firing his kick against the bar. The young midfielder made up for his mistake though heading the winner from Saviola's cross in injury time, and the Andalusians are now only three points behind their opponents in the table.