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Munitis Strike Sinks Valencia
A 55th minute Pedro Munitis strike saw Valencia succumb to their second consecutive away defeat in La Liga, to lose ground to Barcelona once again.
Gavilan was injured early in the game, and his substitute Marco Requiero was sent off at the death, to make it an absolutely miserable evening for Los Che.
It was a very surprising eleven that Quique Sanchez Flores sent out, with Pallardo and Gavilan getting the nod alongside Joaquin and Edu. Racing, meanwhile, persisted with the Munitis-Zigic pairing, with Scaloni wide on the right.
It was a slow start from both sides, but Valencia's poor luck with injuries continued, with Gavilan going down in a heap following a challenge. He was replaced by Marco Regueiro in the 11th minute (Vicente is also missing with an ankle injury).
Los Che suffered from so many changes to the starting eleven, and struggled for rhythm in a first half which could have seen either side take the lead.
Racing passed the ball well - with Garay having an absolutely superb game - and had more than a few opportunities. Canizares had to make two superb saves at the stroke of half time, to ensure Racing did not do any damage.
Valencia failed to work like they can after the break, and paid the inevitable price with ten minutes gone. Garay passed the ball to Zigic on the edge of the box, but just as the defenders went to cover him, a racing Munitis latched onto the ball to send it past Canizares and into the net.
Valencia were behind, and not looking like a side which would be able to come back. All they could come up with was a bunch of frustrated challenges, with Reguiero getting his marching orders in the final minute for a second yellow.
Racing: Tono, Pinillos, Gonzales, Garay, Luis Gonzalez, Scaloni, Colsa, Antonio, Melo, Munitis, Zigic
Valencia: Canizares, Miguel, Ayala, Raul Albiol, Moretti, Joaquin, Edu, Pallardo, Gavilan, Villa, Morientes
Goals: 1-0: Munitis (55')
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Racing - Valencia 
