Las Palmas stun nine-man Valencia in Gran Canaria

Las Palmas have picked up a shock 2-1 win over nine-man Valencia at the Estadio Gran Canaria to give their La Liga survival hopes an unlikely shot in the arm.

The hosts headed into Saturday evening's match sitting bottom of the table and seven points from safety after winning just one of their previous 15 matches, most recently going down 6-0 to Girona last weekend.

La Liga's form book was turned on its head, though, as Jonathan Viera and Jonathan Calleri netted to earn the strugglers a comeback win, denying their opponents the chance to move into second place in the process.

Valencia, who had Gabriel Paulista and Ruben Vezo sent off in the second half, started brightly as Santi Mina stooped in to meet a corner for an early opener.

Mina almost doubled his tally in the first half, with his next effort striking the crossbar, but that would prove to be a key moment as skipper Viera pounced on a knockdown and thumped the ball into the roof of the net.

Carles Gil and Rodrigo also wasted openings as the game remained level early in the second half, at which point Gabriel conceded a penalty and was shown a red for his troubles.

Calleri converted to put Valencia on the brink of a first defeat since the winter break, which was effectively confirmed when Vezo joined Gabriel in picking up a second yellow.

The closest Los Che came to a leveller was late on when Simone Zaza swivelled on the edge of the box and dipped a shot just wide of the far post, meaning a rare lifeline for Las Palmas as they climb one place in the table.

LAS PALMAS (4-3-3): Chichizola; Navarro, Galvez, Lemos (Simon 46'), Castellano; Tana, Penalba (Castellano 80'), Viera; Toledo, Samperio (Halilovic 76'); Calleri

VALENCIA (4-4-2): Neto; Montoya, Paulista, Vezo, Latorre; Maksimovic, Coquelin, Kondogbia, Gil; Mina (Zaza 74'), Rodrigo (Vietto 68')