Valencia clinched their place in the UEFA Cup final after a first-half penalty from leading scorer Mista gave them a 1-0 aggregate win over regional rivals Villarreal in Valencia on Thursday.

The Spanish Primera Liga leaders now meet Olympique Marseille, who cruised to a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United, in Gothenburg on May 19 in what will be their third European final in five seasons.

For Villarreal defeat brought an end to a remarkable first-ever European campaign in which they have notched up a string of high-profile victims including Galatasaray, AS Roma and Celtic on their way to the semi-finals.

Valencia, who are based just 60km further along the Mediterranean coast from their neighbours, remain on course for a first ever domestic and European double.

Rafa Benitez's side laid siege to the Villarreal goal from the start, pinning the visitors back in their own area and forcing a string of corners in a breathless first five minutes.

Villarreal keeper Pepe Reina had to react quickly to turn a shot from Mista round the post and defender Quique Alvarez came to the rescue moments later when he cleared a goal-bound Roberto Ayala header off the line.

Midfielder Ruben Baraja then fired a metre wide with a 25-metre drive but five minutes later Valencia took the lead with the first goal of the tie.

Villarreal defender Juliano Belletti's challenge on Mista was deemed illegal and the striker took the spot kick himself, drilling it past the out-stretched Reina and inside the post.

Curro Torres went close to extending the Valencia lead when he snapped over the bar from the edge of the area after midfielder Mohamed Sissoko had cut back a pass from the byline.

Villarreal gradually adjusted to the pace of the match with the lively Jose Mari and Argentine playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme probing for gaps in the Valencia defence.

BRILLIANT SAVE

Jose Mari eventually managed to create some space for Sonny Anderson in the 26th minute and it took a brilliant one-handed save from Santiago Canizares to stop the Brazilian's vicious swerving 20-metre shot.

It was Villarreal who took control of possession as the half wore on, but despite some neat approach play they were unable to prise open the well organised Valencia defence.

Valencia moved up a gear once more after the break and although Villarreal still needed just one goal to turn the tie, they were never given a look-in by the home side's rugged back four.

Winger Xisco went close to adding a second early in the second half, but his close-range shot was well blocked by Reina.

Benitez brought on Argentine playmaker Pablo Aimar and in-form winger Vicente in the latter stages to put Villarreal under further pressure, but they had to settle for just the one goal.