Valencia keep pressure on Barcelona with Osasuna win

MADRID, Oct 22 (Reuters) Valencia kept the pressure on Primera Liga leaders Barcelona as they beat Osasuna 1-0 at home today thanks to a goal from David Villa.

The Spain striker scored his fifth of the season following a knockdown from Fernando Morientes in the 15th minute.

But Valencia did not have it all their own way. They lost captain David Albelda to a suspected knee ligament injury, saw Osasuna's Valdo thump a shot against the post near the end and had Jorge Lopez sent off in the final minute.

Valencia joined Barca, who have a game in hand, at the top with 16 points, but are second on goal difference.

The champions travel to face arch-rivals Real Madrid later today, where Real will be looking to avenge last year's humiliating 3-0 defeat in the Bernabeu.

Sevilla climbed to third on 15 points with a double-strike from Mali's Frederic Kanoute giving them a 2-1 home win over promoted Gimnastic. Kanoute is joint top scorer in the league with seven.

A point further back in fourth are an improving Deportivo Coruna, who edged out Atletico Madrid 1-0 at home yesterday.

REUTERS AB KP2305