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Valencia 2 - Barcelona 1
Deco, Albelda Off As Valencia Edge Vital Win
After a dull first half, Angulo surged clear of Zambrotta to tap David Villa's cross in minutes after the break, and then selflessly set up David Silva for the second minutes later, as Barca went 2-0 down within minutes of the restart. Deco and Albelda were then sent off following some reckless football and retaliation. Ronaldinho pulled one back in injury time, but it was a little too late...
Some thoroughly sloppy (and for Barca fans, thoroughly worrying ahead of Liverpool on Wednesday) defending was a significant contributory in Valencia's 2-1 win.
First Half
Rijkaard started with Iniesta on the right, and Gudjohnsen ahead of Saviola up front, in what was a bit of a surprise.
Valencia, as expected, went with David Villa and Morientes up front, with Silva and Angulo for support.
It was the hosts who threatened first, with David Villa put clean through in the 6th minute, his effort parried by Blaugrana shot-stopper Valdes.
At the other end, Gudjohnsen was nearly threaded through a couple of times by Ronaldinho and his creative entourage, as the visitors showed the typically neat close control and speed of passing in the final third that often characterizes their play.
For the most part both teams nullified each other’s attacks, until close to the half hour mark, when Iniesta burst down the right flank and on to the edge of the Che area, squaring for Gudjohnsen, but the Icelandic striker could only side-foot his shot past the post.
As the half drew to a close, Valencia began to enjoy a little more possession, having attempted to hit Barca on the counter for much of the half, culminating in a defence-splitting one-two from an unlikely source, David Albelda, who fired into the side netting after receiving the return pass from Angulo.
But, by and large, the interplay and build-up became somewhat untidy and increasingly static as tension grew before the break.
Second Half
The game exploded into action after the break, as collective poor defending from Edmilson, Oleguer, Puyol and Zambrotta saw Valencia net their first.
David Villa threaded a neat ball from the left, through Edmilson and Oleguer after drawing them both to him, and Zambrotta and Puyol were caught ball-watching as Angulo burst through them to tap in past Valdes from five yards out.
Ronaldinho missed a great chance to pull Barca back level, and Los Che made them pay, albeit amidst a comedy of errors from the Barca defence.
Angulo scorched down the right flank, again unmarked after a huge overlap, and slid the ball across the six yard box. Barca initially cleared the ball, but only a few yards and straight back to him. To make it worse, Valdes came out to collect in a huge misjudgement, and Angulo cleverly cut it back to Silva, who found the back of a gaping net as Puyol was again nowhere near.
Ronaldinho and Co. soon set about laying siege to the Che goal in an effort to redeem them selves, with the Brazilian in particular teasing the hosts' defence - which ultimately stood firm with greater numbers.
Perhaps the best chance in the remainder of the match fell to Fernando Morientes who, having been put through on goal and with plenty of time, overcompensated with a curling shot as it went disappointingly wide.
The remainder of the match was fraught with yellow cards, angry confrontations and incident. As the tackles flew in, the night threatened to erupt after a catalogue of rough challenges in a matter of seconds led to a mass-melee, resulting in a retribution-seeking David Albelda and affronted Deco both seeing red
Xavi skewed one wide after being set up very well by Giuly, and one sensed that the Catalans wouldn't score if the game continued for another ninety minutes.
Los Che looked like they would hold on comfortably despite Barca's domination, but Ronaldinho pulled one back with a fierce free-kick in injury time, and heaped some serious pressure in the dying minutes to flutter more than a few hearts at the Mestalla.
However, it proved to be a little too late, as time ran out amidst more melee.
Valencia deserved their win, even if only for defending competently when their opponents could not in the key moments. Los Che are surely right in the title race now, and with players slowly returning from injury, Quique Flores will be quietly confident.
For Rijkaard, the pressure increases in La Liga with Sevilla playing at home and currently leading Atletico, a victory putting them level with the Catalans. The defeat also makes the Liverpool fixture all the bigger.
Valencia: Butelle – Miguel, Albiol, Ayala, Moretti – Angulo, Albelda, Marchena, Silva – Villa (Joaquin), Morientes (Pallardo)
Barcelona: Valdes – Oleguer, Edmilson (Giuly), Puyol, Zambrotta – Xavi, Marquez, Deco – Iniesta, Gudjohnsen (Messi), Ronaldinho.
Goals: 1-0 (Angulo, 52'); 2-0 (Silva, 55')
Players Sent Off: Deco, Albelda
Players Booked: Marquez, Puyol, Ronaldinho, Butelle, Zambrotta, Albiol, Marchena.
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Valencia - Barcelona 
We won Barça another time!!! It's fantastic!! Butelle was ok and Miguel, Moretti, Albiol, Marchena, Albelda and Angulo played very well. Many players played well!! Barça didn't know the way to win Valencia and we killed them with Angulo and Silva goals!! Unfortunately referee sent off Albelda.. it's true his tackling was hard.
