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Valencia up the pressure with 1-0 win over Barca
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-13 09:33
MADRID, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Valencia breathed new life into the Spanish title
race on Sunday, snatching a 1-0 win at home to Barcelona that left them just six
points behind the champions at the top of the table.
The match was
decided by a dreadful error from Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes who scuffed
the ball into the path of David Villa shortly before halftime, allowing the
Valencia striker to lob the ball into an empty net.
Barca, missing influential trio Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and Deco but
welcoming back leading striker Samuel Eto'o from the African Nations Cup, could
not prise open Valencia's rugged defence as they slipped to a second successive
league defeat.
Frank Rijkaard's side lead the standings on 52 points ahead of Valencia with
46 and arch-rivals Real Madrid on 45 after their 2-0 win at Athletic Bilbao on
Saturday.
"I'm not worried about the defeat as the side showed a great attitude out
there and we fought very hard," said the Dutch coach. "A defeat always hurts but
when it comes like this it is not a big concern.
"We played against a great team that are in very good form and it was a very
interesting game."
Osasuna are fourth on 43 points, four clear of Celta Vigo who reclaimed fifth
spot after a penalty from leading striker Fernando Baiano gave them a 1-0 win at
home to an out-of-sorts Villarreal on Saturday.
Atletico Madrid, who ended Barca's 14-match winning run in the league with a
3-1 victory at the Nou Camp last week, continued their revival with their fourth
success in a row after Mateja Kezman's late header in a 1-0 win over Real
Sociedad.
COUNTER-ATTACKS
Although they enjoyed far less possession, Valencia never let Barca settle at
a packed Mestalla and were a constant threat with their electrifying
counter-attacks.
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