19 February 2007, by Sean Gillen

Outstanding Miguel stars as Valencia beat Barcelona

Valencia 2-1 Barcelona

Deco was sent off for Barcelona as Valencia, thanks to no small degree the outstanding Miguel, put themselves in the thick of the Spanish title race with a crucial 2-1 victory over the champions at the Mestalla on Sunday evening.

Two goals in three second half minutes for the hosts proved the difference between the sides, and Deco joined Valencia captain David Albelda in seeing red before Ronaldinho scored a late consolation for a disjointed Barcelona side.

The first half was a cagey affair, with Valencia happy to sit back and invite pressure in order to hit their opponents on the counter attack. As a result, Barca enjoyed large spells of possession, with the likes of Deco and Xavi seeing plenty of the ball, but struggled to create opportunities.

The home side created the first real chance of the game on seven minutes when Fernando Morientes’ throughball put top goalscorer David Villa in on goal, but Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes did well to block the Spanish international’s finish.

Barca dominated and much of the first period was being played in the Valencia half. Xavi had already threatened to open the scoring before he released Iniesta on the right of the area, and the youngster cut the ball back for Gudjohnsen to fire wide with the best chance of the half.

Outstanding Miguel

Valencia handed Portuguese full-back Miguel the job of marking Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho, and the former Benfica man did an outstanding job for his side, also providing some superb covering of his central defenders at crucial moments.

Despite Barca showing more attacking intent, the home side almost took the lead in the build-up to half time when Morientes’s backheel created a chance for Albelda, who failed to find the target when well placed inside the penalty area.

Having bided their time in the first half, Valencia stunned Barca by taking the lead six minutes after the restart. Villa found space on the left and took his time before picking out Miguel Angulo’s run into the box for the winger to comfortably slot the ball past Valdes.

The champions almost levelled immediately, with Deco and Ronaldinho repeating their routine that brought a goal against Racing last week. Deco whipped a free-kick into the danger zone from wide on the left, but the Brazilian failed to connect with his head from just five metres out.

Just three minutes after the opening goal, Valencia doubled their advantage. Carlos Marchena’s exquisite pass out to the right found Angulo, who pulled the ball back for Silva to slide in the second.

Deco sees red

Deco and Albelda were both then sent off as the game became heated. Incensed at what he felt was an elbow from Ronaldinho, Albelda ploughed into the back of Barca substitute Lionel Messi, and Deco responded with an equally rash challenge on the Valencia midfielder.

Both men were dismissed, and as a result Valencia sunk deeper in order to protect their lead. Messi dragged a shot wide and Ronaldinho failed with a couple of free-kicks as Barca showed little signs of turning the game around.

Ronaldinho did pull a goal back for the visitors when he beat Butelle with a low 20-metre free-kick into the bottom corner during injury time, but the goal could do little to hide the poor nature of Barca’s performance ahead of their midweek Champions League tie with Liverpool.

Valencia:
Butelle, Miguel, Moretti, Ayala, Albiol, Marchena, Albelda, Silva (Lopez, 85), Angulo, Morientes (Pallardo, 65), Villa (Joaquin, 71)
Yellow Cards: Marchena (49), Albiol (54), Butelle (65)
Red Cards: Albelda (62)

Barcelona:
Valdes, Oleguer, Zambrotta, Puyol, Marquez, Edmilson (Giuly, 72), Xavi, Deco, Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Gudjohnsen (Messi, 56)
Yellow Cards: Edmilson (21), Zambrotta (35), Puyol (64), Marquez (66), Ronaldinho (68)
Red Cards: Deco (62)

Goals:
[1-0] Angulo, 52
[2-0] Silva, 55
[2-1] Ronaldinho, 92