Betis: Ricardo; Nelson, Melli, Juanito, Fernando
Vega; Mehmet Aurelio (Juanma 79'), Rivera (Capi 69'); Edu, Emaná, Mark
González; Oliveira. 4-2-3-1.
Valencia:
César; Raúl Albiol, Maduro, Alexis, Del Horno (Albelda
76'); Marchena, Edu; Pablo Hernández (Joaquín 56'), David Silva,
Mata; David Villa (Vicente 81'). 4-2-3-1.
Team changes: Betis: Melli, Fernando Vega, Rivera for Arzu, Monzón, Capi / Valencia: Maduro, Del Horno, Edu, Pablo Hernández for Miguel, Albelda, Baraja, Joaquín.
Goals:
0-1. 66. David Villa. Back-heel flick across Ricardo from
Mata's long cross.
0-2. 78. David Villa. Latched on to Edu's square pass to
shoot wide of keeper.
1-2. 87. Oliveira. Ran on to long Juanma pass and
drove shot inside near post.
Yellow cards: Oliveira 59', Maduro 63', Marchena 88'.
Valencia closed to within two points of third placed Sevilla after a 1-2 win at Betis on Wednesday evening, their fifth victory in a row. Both sides had chances before the break, but the goals didn't come until midway through the second half when David Villa turned in Mata's cross.
A few minutes later Mata fired a long shot against the post, and Villa got his second of the night soon afterwards, picking up Edu's pass to beat Ricardo. Oliveira got a late consolation after Juanma put him through on a quick breakaway, but it came too late to change the result. It was a first defeat for Betis new coach José María Nogués.