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Champions Valencia beaten 1-0 by Albacete
Spanish Primera Liga champions Valencia were beaten 1-0 by Albacete in their final game of the season at the Mestalla on Sunday.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 09:06 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Valencia:
Spanish Primera Liga champions Valencia were beaten 1-0 by Albacete in their final game of the season at the Mestalla on Sunday. Valencia rested the regular midfield duo of David Albelda and Ruben Baraja and Albacete looked to make the most of their absence. Fernandez Reyes Basti tried his luck from distance in the fourth minute, but Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Canizares was alert to the danger and tipped the shot over the crossbar. The home side seemed content to cruise through the final game of the season and Xisco's 19th minute shot wide of the target, from Juan Sanchez's back heel, was the closest that Valencia came to scoring in the first half. Albacete would show their illustrious hosts just how to do it on the hour mark though. Canizares could only punch away a long range effort from substitute Gato and Carlos Aranda reacted quickly to tuck away his eighth goal of the season for a 1-0 lead. Valencia had chances to pull level and Miguel Angel Mista came closest to equalising for the home side. Mista was picked out at the far post by Xisco in the 69th minute, but the UEFA Cup final goal scorer's powerful header was brilliantly saved by Manuel Almunia. The Albacete shot stopper looked certain to be beaten, but flung himself at the ball to maintain a clean sheet. Albacete deservedly held on to their 1-0 lead and finished the season in 14th place. However, Valencia were quick to recover from the defeat - they had the small matter of lifting the Spanish Primera Liga trophy in front of their fans. Club captain Albelda and Baraja joined their teammates on the half way line to celebrate their second league title success in three seasons. (AP)Topics mentioned in this article
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