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On Sunday, there were surprises in the 23rd round of the Spanish championship matches, which heated up the battle for tickets to next year's UEFA Cup tournament. In the central match of the round, Valencia defeated league leaders Barcelona by a minimal score, reigniting the intrigue for the champions title.
The hosts in Valencia started the match more successfully and scored a goal in the seventh minute through Pablo Aimar, but it was disallowed by the referee because the pass by David Villa was offside. Barcelona then attempted to push forward, but Mario Regueiro failed to score from a comfortable position. At the end of the first half, the scenario of past matches repeated itself - just like before, Valencia scored a goal after a mistake by Barcelona's goalkeeper Victor Valdes. This time, the Spanish player's weak pass to his defender was intercepted, and David Villa, the Spanish national team striker, scored what turned out to be the winning goal.
In the second half, the visitors had an impressive territorial advantage (even 70-30), but without the attacking engines Ronaldinho, Deco, and Lionel Messi playing for Barcelona, they rarely threatened Valencia's goal. Both teams' goalkeepers played well in several episodes, and in the third minute of added time, a brilliant performance by Valdes saved Barcelona from a second goal.
Form-reviving Atletico Madrid secured a minimal victory with a goal from the sole Serbian player Mateja Kezman in the 83rd minute against Real Sociedad of San Sebastian, as well as Deportivo La Coruna, who snatched a victory against Betis Sevilla just before the end of the match.
Celta Vigo fought hard for a home victory, defeating Villarreal's resistance in the Champions League eighth-finalists with a minimal score. The only goal of the match was scored by the Brazilian Fernando Baiano from the penalty spot at the end of the first half.
Victories on Sunday were also secured by Racing Santander and Alaves Vitoria clubs, while the match between Mallorca and Getafe Madrid ended in a 1-1 draw.
Sunday's Statistics:
Madrid 1 - 0 San Sebastian
83` [1 - 0] Mateja Kezman
90` John Viafara sent off ("Real Sociedad")
Seville 0 - 1 La Coruna
90` [0 - 1] Ruben Castro
Vigo 1 - 0
38` [1 - 0] Fernando Baiano (pen.)
Barcelona 0 - 2
81` [0 - 1] Damia
83` [0 - 2] Javi Casquero
Vitoria 3 - 2
44` [1 - 0] Cesar Navas (own goal)
49` [2 - 0] John Aloisi
56` [3 - 0] Rodolfo Bodipo
70` [3 - 1] Duda
90` [3 - 2] Antonio Hidalgo
Madrid 1 - 1
67` [1 - 0] Juan Arango
77` [1 - 1] Angel Vivar Dorado
1 - 0
44` [1 - 0] David Villa
