Valencia 3 - Almería 2

Valencia: César; Miguel, Maduro (Albelda 86'), Marchena, Moretti; Baraja (Edu 80'), Manuel Fernandes; Joaquín (Angulo 68'), David Silva, Mata; David Villa. 4-2-3-1.
Almería: Diego Alvés; Bruno, Carlos García, Pellerano, Mané; Iriney, Soriano (Corona 67'); Juanma Ortíz (Piatti 82'), Kalu Uche, Crusat; Negredo. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Valencia: César, Moretti, Joaquín, Baraja, Manuel Fernandes, David Villa for Guaita, Raúl Albiol, Del Horno, Edu, Pablo Hernández, Morientes / Almería: Pellerano for Chico.

Goals:
1-0. 06. Joaquín. Got on the end of David Silva cross to volley shot past Alves.
1-1. 22. Negredo. Acrobatic leap to turn Crusat cross in to net on far post.
2-1. 30. Villa (penalty). After Carlos García bundled over Mata in the area.
3-1. 61. Villa. Fired shot past Alves after David Silva played ball across.
3-2. 64. Negredo. Header in off bar after Marchena failed to clear Crusat cross.

Yellow cards: Maduro 34', Baraja 45', Soriano 53', Marchena 64', Carlos García 81'.

Valencia consolidated fourth spot after a 3-2 win over Almería on Sunday, and with Sevilla losing later in the evening they are now only a point behind them in the table. Joaquín opened the scoring in the sixth minute after getting on the end of a David Silva cross. And although Negredo equalised with an acrobatic shot from Crusat's long ball, David Villa restored the lead from the penalty spot on the half hour mark after Mata was fouled in the area.

Villa got his second of the night after the restart, beating Alves at the second attempt after his first shot had been saved, and Silva failed to control the rebound. But Negredo replied again for the visitors after a bad mistake by Marchena, and only an injury time save by César from Piatti prevented the visitors from saving a point. It was a first defeat for new coach Hugo Sánchez, and that against the man who had taken the team up from the second division a couple of season's ago.