Valencia ignited the Primera Liga title race with a tense 2-1 home win over leaders Barcelona on Sudnay. Fernando Morientes supplied international teammate David Villa with a superb through ball, but Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes produced a fine save to deny the home side an early lead in the seventh minute. Barcelona dominated most of the game but lacked the final touch. In the 31st minute Andres Iniesta fed a golden low cross from the right to Eidur Gudjohnsen, but the Icelandic's drive went just inches away from the target. In the 42nd minute, Miguel Angel Angulo played a clever back-pass to David Albelda whose low drive hit the side netting. In the second period Villa penetrated the Catalan defenses, playing a low cross to Angulo who tapped it past helpless Valdes in the 52 minute.
Deco was shown the red card Three minutes later, Angulo turned provider pouncing on a rebound from Valdes before passing it to David Silva who fired it at the top of the net. Morientes could have made three in the 59th minute as he put Villa's through-ball just wide of the far post. The match was stopped in the 62nd minute after a fight between Valencia skipper Albelda and Barcelona's midfielder Deco who were both shown red cards. Substitute Ludovic Giuly energized the right flank for Barcelona, playing a low cross to Xavi who missed the target denying his team a chance to get back in the game on 87 minutes. Ronaldinho became joint league top scorer when curled home a free kick in injury time, giving his side a late consolation goal, his 16th of the season. Valencia's 42 points allowed them to share second place with Real Madrid, only four points behind Barcelona.
