First Division - Day 34

Valencia 1 - Deportivo 0

Valencia: César; Pablo Hernández, Alexis, Maduro, Jordi Alba; Albelda (Baraja 60'), Banega (Manuel Fernandes 73'); Joaquín, Silva, Vicente (Mata 85'); David Villa. 4-2-3-1.
Deportivo: Aranzubia; Laure, Zé Castro, Piscu (Rochela 46'), Manuel Pablo; Juan Rodríguez, Sergio, Antonio Tomás, Pablo Alvarez (Mista 80'); Adrián, Riki (Lassad 67'). 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 34. Villa (penalty). After Zé Castro blocked Vicente's shot with his arm in area.

Yellow cards: Zé Castro 32', Silva 55', Lassad 71', Alexis 74', Baraja 93' / red cards: Baraja 93'.

Valencia are a step closer to the third automatic Champions League spot after beating Deportivo 1-0 in the last match of Saturday evening. The Galicians had already won in the Mestalla stadium this year when the two teams met in the cup, but after a run of eight games without a win they are currently down on their luck. The Chés dominated for most of the first half, and they went ahead with a Villa penalty after Zé Castro blocked Vicente's shot with his arm on the half hour mark. Aranzubia had to be on his toes to stop Villa and Baraja from increasing the lead after the break, and although Pablo Alvarez wasted a chance to equalise, Silva should have scored late on when his shot came back off the post in to the arms of the keeper. The game ended with a red card for Baraja, but the final whistle came seconds later.