Benítez: Mavuba dismissal was key

Valencia CF coach Rafael Benítez insisted the first-half dismissal of FC Girondins de Bordeaux's Antonio Mavuba was the turning point in his side's 2-1 UEFA Cup quarter-final first-leg victory at the Stade Chaban-Delmas.

Late goals
The 20-year-old midfield player was sent off on 27 minutes for kicking out at Mohamed Sissoko, and though the home side battled bravely to protect an early lead, Bordeaux eventually tired, losing out to late goals from Rubén Baraja and Francisco Rufete.

'Well organised'
"Like we thought, Bordeaux are a good team," Benítez said. "They were well organised and, with the score at 0-1, the match appeared to be difficult for us. I agree that Mavuba's sending off was very important. It changed the game. After that my team won the midfield battle, took control of the ball and played more like we usually do. The game was easier for us."

Slow start
Valencia, without Roberto Ayala and Pablo Aimar and with leading scorer Mista on the substitutes' bench, were made to pay for a slow start when Santiago Cañizares allowed Albert Riera's innocuous free-kick to bounce over him and into the net.

Pavon disappointment
It was just reward for a confident start from Michel Pavon's team, but the Bordeaux coach was disappointed that his team were then deprived of the chance to press home their advantage against the Primera División's second-placed side. "I would have liked to see my team playing eleven against eleven," he said. "We lost the match in midfield, once Mavuba had been sent off."

'Great team'
Pavon then praised his side, who have struggled in Ligue 1 this season, for matching the high-flying Spanish team for most of the match. "I have nothing to say against my players, they did a good job, and worked hard," he said. "The Spanish team only went into our area two times and they scored two goals. But I know it's the great football teams that are able to do that."

'Impossible mission'
Worse still for Pavon, Marouane Chamakh and Franck Jurietti are, like Mavuba, suspended for the second leg after both were booked here. "We will go to the Mestalla with pride and a fighting spirit, but three of my players will miss the match," he said. "It will be an impossible mission and we will need a miracle, but why not?"

'Believe in ourselves'
The Bordeaux defender David Jemmali issued a rallying cry to his side by refusing to write off Bordeaux's chances. "We have to believe in ourselves," he said. But Mista warned that the return at the Mestalla will be an entirely different experience for the French side.

Fans important
"Bordeaux played very well all match," Mista said. "We had to be patient and we didn't play very well, but scoring two goals away from home is very important. The tie is not over, but with our fans at home it will be difficult for Bordeaux."