Madrid - Valencia are back on top of the Spanish Liga after a tight 1-0 win in Valladolid. A handsome goal from Manuel Fernandes in the 55th minute, his first for Valencia, was enough for Unai Emery's team, who have rediscovered their mean touch away from home this season.
The same as in the title-winning days of Rafa Benitez, Valencia were content to let the hosts dominate, soaking up the pressure - then coming forward on the break with speed and precision.
Pedro Leon and Pedro Lopez looked lively down Valadolid's right flank, but the hosts lacked a sharp forward.
Ten minutes into the second half, Fernandes took a short pass from David Villa and scored with a powerful left-foot drive.
Valencia then had chances to settle the issue on the break, whilst Valladolid gradually ran out of steam, patience and ideas.
The tight win leaves Valencia with 16 points from six games, ahead of local rivals Villarreal - who on Saturday beat bottom side Betis 2-1 - on goal difference.
"It's good to be back on top," said Valencia veteran David Albelda.
"But the important thing now is just to carry on winning matches, without getting obsessed with the league table," he added.
Earlier on Sunday, slick Sevilla had moved up to third, on 14 points, with a 4-0 thrashing of Athletic Bilbao.
Star of the show in the Sanchez Pizjuan was rapid right-winger Jesus Navas, who set up first-half goals for Frederic Kanoute and Renato with precise centres.
Navas, 22, will surely be called up soon for Spain - as soon as he overcomes the anxiety attacks that afflict him periodically.
In the 76th minute Enzo Maresca set up Adriano to make it 3-0. Five minutes later eternal sub Ernesto Chevanton completed the rout from close range.
"We really enjoyed ourselves this evening and I think the fans did too," said Kanoute.
One point behind Sevilla, in fourth place, are Barcelona, who turned on the style on Saturday to thrash feeble Atletico Madrid 6-1.
Sunday's late match will be between fifth-placed Real Madrid and midtable Espanyol.
Real currently have 12 points, one point more than tough Almeria, who battled out a 2-2 draw away to Getafe thanks to late goals from Alvaro Negredo and Jose Chico.
The disappointing draw leaves Getafe joint seventh with Atletico Madrid, on nine points.
UEFA Cup heroes Deportivo Coruna, meanwhile, were moving up to ninth by beating Numancia 1-0, on an early goal from Angel Lafita.
Mallorca have fallen down to 10th thanks to a shock 0-2 defeat at home to Sporting Gijon, who had zero points and 20 goals against until the game in Palma.
On Thursday Mallorca became the first Liga club to be owned by a foreigner, when British businessman Paul Davidson agreed to buy 90 per cent of the club's shares.
Malaga, for their part, moved out of the danger zone up to 12th with an impressive 4-0 win up the road in Huelva. Malaga's star was two-goal hero Eliseu Pereira.
Racing Santander, meanwhile, were winning 1-0 away to Osasuna thanks to late, late goal from Juan Valera.
This defeat leaves Osasuna fifth from bottom, just above Numancia, Huelva, Gijon and bottom team Betis.
