Valencia's Baraja cleared to face Real Madrid

Valencia's Ruben Baraja can play against Real Madrid on Saturday after the Spanish Sports Disciplinary Committee (CEDD) overturned a one match ban.

CEDD said the punishment would be suspended after deciding that the Spain midfielder's second yellow card in last week's 2-1 defeat by Sevilla was not merited.

Baraja received the booking for a challenge on Sevilla midfielder Daniel Alves but television replays appeared to show he won the ball cleanly.

The Spanish Football Federation turned down an appeal by Valencia earlier this week but CEDD has now overruled that decision allowing Baraja to play at the Bernabeu.

"Justice has been done," said Baraja, "I'm really happy because I wasn't holding out much hope of getting the decision overturned. I'm delighted that I will now be able to play."

The champions are second in the Primera Liga, five points behind Barcelona and four ahead of 11th-placed Real Madrid.