Valencia 2 - Barcelona 1

Valencia: Butelle; Miguel, Raúl Albiol, Ayala, Moretti; Angulo, Marchena, Albelda, David Silva (Jorge López 85'); David Villa (Joaquín 72'), Morientes (Pallardó 65'). 4-4-2.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Oleguer, Puyol, Edmilson (Giuly 72'), Zambrotta; Xavi, Márquez, Deco; Iniesta, Gudjohnsen (Messi 56'), Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.

Team changes: Valencia: Butelle, Ayala, David Villa for Cañizares, David Navarro, Joaquín / Barça: Oleguer, Gudjohnsen for Belletti, Saviola.

Goals:
1-0. 52. Angulo. Got ahead of marker to turn David Villa cross past Valdés.
2-0. 55. David Silva. Got on the end of Angulo pass to shoot wide of keeper.
2-1. 92. Ronaldinho. Fired low free kick around wall and into far bottom corner.

Leaders Barcelona were beaten 2-1 by Valencia, a result which left them sharing top spot with Sevilla and took Quique Flores's side to within four points of their rivals. Both sides had chances in the first half, with Valdés saving well from David Villa when free on goal, and Xavi, Deco and Gudjohnsen all missing the target. But six minutes in to the second half Angulo caught the Barcelona defence half asleep to nip in and turn Villa's cross into the net.

Ronaldinho and Gudjohnsen both failed to get on the end of a dangerous Deco free kick, but a couple of minutes later Valencia were two up when Angulo won the ball back on the right goal line and crossed in for Silva to turn a shot wide of Valdés. Morientes wasted an easy chance to make it three, but Deco shot wide at the other end before both he and Albelda got themselves sent off in a series of lunging tackles. Ronaldinho did get one back with an injury time free kick around the defensive wall, but by then it was too late to do any more.