A towering header from Ricardo Costa and a late strike from Roberto Soldado earned 10-man Valencia a 2-0 home win over struggling Real Mallorca that lifted them to fifth in La Liga on Sunday.
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Valencia, who lost 2-1 at home to Paris St Germain in the Champions League last week, were in trouble after 28 minutes when Tino Costa was sent off for swinging his arm into Tomas Pina.
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The pace of Mallorca's Giovani dos Santos was a constant threat but Portugal defender Costa rose at the back post to power a header under the bar from a corner in the 60th minute.
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Home keeper Diego Alves kept Mallorca at bay and the hard-working hosts were rewarded when Spain striker Soldado broke free and squeezed a shot under Dudu Aouate nine minutes from time.
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Mallorca, second bottom of La Liga, have one win from their last 19 league outings.
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Valencia have 40 points from 24 games, two behind fourth-placed Malaga, who beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 at home on Saturday.
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Later on Sunday, second-placed Atletico Madrid, with 50 points, visit Real Valladolid looking to close the 15-point gap on leaders Barcelona, who won 2-1 at Granada on Saturday with a Lionel Messi double. Champions Real Madrid, in third with 46 points, host city rivals Rayo Vallecano in the late game.
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In the midday kickoff, Levante stalled Real Sociedad's push for European football next season by holding them to a 1-1 draw with ten men, both goals coming from first-half penalties.
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Carlos Vela gave the Basques the lead and Michel levelled, but Levante hung on despite a second yellow card for defender Nikos Karabelas early in the second period.