Valencia heaped more pressure on Barcelona and Coach Frank Rijkaard by defeating the La Liga leaders 2-1 at the Estadio Mestalla last night. Goals from Miguel Angulo and David Silva were enough to see off the leaders’ threat. A consolation goal came late on from Ronaldinho through a superb free-kick.

However, a string of missed chances and a red card for Barca’s Portuguese midfielder Deco was hardly the ideal preparation for this weeks Champions League clash against Liverpool. Elsewhere in La Liga, Sevilla took advantage of Barcelona’s slip up, by beating Atletico Madrid 3-1 at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Freddie Kanoute netted twice and Daniel Alves got the third for Sevilla sending them joint-top of the table, with Barca being ahead only on goal difference. A late consolation goal came for Atletico through Pablo Ibanez.