Valencia have moved to within four points of second place Barcelona in La Liga with a 2-1 win at home to Espanyol.
The hosts took the lead after five minutes when Didac Vila was controversially adjudged to have pulled back Dealbert from a corner. Tino Costa stepped up to smash the penalty past Cristian Alvarez in the Espanyol goal.
The home side continued to press, and Aritz Arduriz should have done better when he headed wide from a corner.
The visitors' best chance of the half came when Alvaro's flicked shot was saved by Diego Alves following a free kick.
In a scrappy second half, Espanyol were level on 68 minutes when Hector Moreno was able to strike from close range after Rui Costa's clever dummy.
Valencia went back in front 10 minutes from time when substitute Roberto Soldado found the net with a header from Costa's corner.
The result has kept Espanyol ninth in the table.
Jack Prescott
