Valencia returned to the top of the Primera Liga with a 1-0 win at Real Valladolid courtesy of a wonderful second-half strike by Manuel Fernandes.
The former Everton midfielder settled the game in the 54th minute when he smashed a low drive into the bottom corner of the net from 20 yards after being played in by David Villa.
It was the one moment of genuine quality in a game of few clear-cut chances, although Valencia coach Unai Emery will be delighted with the manner in which his team went about their task against a team that had won both of their opening home matches.
Los Che made three changes to the team that thrashed Deportivo La Coruna at the Mestalla in their last league outing, with Ivan Helguera in for Raul Albiol at the back, Fernandes replacing Edu in midfield and Miguel Angel Angulo favoured ahead of Fernando Morientes in attack.
The first half was a stop-start affair with an endless stream of free-kicks in the middle of the park for both sides, although Valencia will feel they probably shaded it on the balance of chances.
The first opening arrived after 23 minutes when Villa sprung the offside trap down the right and lifted a high ball over the onrushing Sergio Asenjo towards Juan Mata inside the six-yard box but the winger was beaten in the air by Javier Baraja.
Valladolid were relying heavily on the cultured right boot of Pedro Leon at set-pieces, and he forced Renan Brito to push a dangerous inswinging free-kick onto the post.
However, it was the visitors who looked the strongest going into the interval but Joaquin and Mata were unable to pick out bodies inside the six-yard box when in positions to deliver decent crosses.
Five minutes after the restart Fernandes got a chance to set his sights when he blazed a shot over the crossbar from 25 yards, but he made no mistake from an almost identical position just four minutes later.
Villa beat his marker to a cross from the right and the Portuguese was alert to the opportunity and hammered an excellent strike into the bottom corner, although Asenjo, who was slow to go down, might be disappointed with his efforts.
Valencia looked comfortable thereafter and although Valladolid pushed for an equaliser, it was the visitors who looked more likely to score.
The best chance Valladolid had to level arrived after 70 minutes when Jonathan Sesma worked space inside the box but could only fire into the side-netting as Valencia held on for their sixth straight win in all competitions.
