Madrid - A late 1-0 win Sunday at bottom team Malaga puts solid Valencia back in fourth place in the Spanish Liga. Valencia won thanks to a goal 21 minutes from time from new captain David Navarro.
Navarro has had his ups and downs in the last couple of years, being loaned out to Mallorca after receiving a lengthy UEFA ban for his part in the March 2007 fracas against Inter Milan.
But he is now wearing the captain's armband in the absence of injury victim Carlos Marchena - and enjoying a new lease on life.
Navarro marshalled the Valencia defence superbly in Malaga and scored the crucial goal, heading in a high centre from Pablo Hernandez that goalkeeper Gustavo Munua made a mess of.
Malaga came close to equalizing when Victor Obinna hit the crossbar. Three minutes later the Nigerian striker was foiled by Valencia keeper Cesar Sanchez.
"We had to fight really hard today," said Navarro. "It was lovely to score that goal, especially since it gave us three points."
Valencia now have 18 points from nine games, one less than third- place Sevilla, who won 2-0 Saturday at Xerez.
Sevilla, in turn, are three points behind second-placed Real Madrid, who beat Getafe 2-0 Saturday at home. Real are now just one point behind leaders Barcelona, who conceded a late 1-1 draw Saturday at Osasuna.
Valencia are one point above fifth-place Mallorca, who scored a tight 1-0 home win earlier Sunday over Racing Santander.
The only goal in Palma came in the 18th minute, when Pierre Webo made it 1-0 with an angled drive, after good work by man-of-the-match Borja Valero, who, at age 24, is finally begin to fulfill some of his early promise.
"We are winning all of our home games," said Valero, "and that is very important in this league."
Mallorca are one point ahead of sixth-placed Deportivo Coruna, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home to dogged Sporting Gijon in Sunday's late game.
Lassad Nouioui gave Deportivo the lead, only for Diego Castro to level for Gijon, who are now seventh.
The performance of the day was turned in by born-again Villarreal, who thrashed Tenerife 5-0. Joseba Llorente led the rout with two goals, the others were scored by Robert Pires, Guiseppe Rossi and Cani.
In Sunday's other early games, Zaragoza beat Almeria 2-1 with goals from Angel Lafita and Ruben Pulido, while Valladolid battled out a late 1-1 draw at Espanyol with an equalizer from supersub Haris Medunjanin.
Malaga are bottom with just four points, followed by Xerez on five.
Atletico Madrid, who lost 1-0 Saturday in Bilbao, are on seventh, the same as Santander. Then come four teams on nine points: Tenerife, Almeria, Valladolid and Villarreal.
