The striker chased onto a long ball from Luis Miguel to slot home after 61 minutes - the goal coming largely against the run of play.

Schalke made two changes to the line-up that drew against Bayern Munich at the weekend with Marcio Rafinha returning from injury to replace Marcio Rafael Ferreira de Souza and Halil Altintop coming in for Peter Lovenkrands.

Quique Sanchez Flores made six changes to his Valencia side that was unimpressive when beating Real Valladolid 2-1 last time out, dropping Stephen Sunny, Manuel Fernandes, Ruben Baraja, Joaquin, Javier Arizmendi and Ruano Alexis to the bench.

In came Miguel, Carlos Marchena, David Albelda, David Silva, Villa and Miguel Angulo as the coach put out a more attacking line-up.

It was the home side who had the first effort on goal with Gerald Asamoah testing Canizares in the 10th minute but the former Real Madrid man made the save.

It was Asamoah again who was next to try and break the deadlock as Albelda fouled Fabian Ernst to concede a free kick but the striker could only put his shot wide.

Albelda then made another harsh challenge, this time on Christian Pander, to earn himself a place in the book of referee Jan Wegereef.

Both sides were beginning to find their feet now as the game opened up and German international Kevin Kuranyi had two opportunities inside a minute to put Schalke ahead but he could not take advantage as he first missed with a header and then a right foot shot from inside the box.

It was end to end stuff now and Valencia had their first real effort in the 34th minute as Fernando Morientes brought a save out of Manuel Neuer.

Just two minutes later it was Villa making the keeper work before he fouled Rafinha at the other end to concede a free kick in a dangerous position. It was taken by Pander but Canizares was equal to it and made the save.

In the 53rd minute though the keeper nearly dropped his side in it as he came for, and missed, an Ivan Rakitic corner allowing Jermaine Jones to get in a half volley, but Albiol did well to block his effort almost on the line before the keeper recovered to gather.

The home side then had another chance as Albiol fouled Altintop but Pander put the free kick into the wall allowing Valencia to break away and score.

Miguel played a long right-footed ball over the top which Villa ran onto. He skipped over the keeper before finishing from a narrow angle.

Schalke had a good chance to equalise in the 81st minute when Rakitic whipped in a corner and Heiko Westermann was presented with a free header but he could only put it past the right-hand post.