Madrid: Valencia bounced back from their Champions League loss to Manchester United with a 2-1 home victory over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to move four points clear at the Spanish first division summit.
A third goal of the season from striker Aritz Aduriz on 10 minutes and a late strike from substitute Vicente made it 16 points from 18 for unbeaten Valencia who lead Villarreal and champions Barcelona.
It is too early to know if Valencia, league champions in 2002 and 2004 under Rafael Benitez, are genuine title contenders to Real and Barca who finished 28 points ahead of third-placed Valencia last season.
Barcelona were to host Real Mallorca yesterday while Real Madrid, who have yet to be defeated, entertain strugglers Deportivo La Coruna on the same day looking to close a five-point gap on Valencia.
Fine start
Valencia fell victim to a late goal in Wednesday's 1-0 Champions League home defeat to Manchester United but responded with a narrow win over Bilbao to continue their fine start.
Aduriz linked up well with strike partner Roberto Soldado and planted a header home in the 10th minute for his third goal since joining from Real Mallorca in a four-million-euro summer move.
Vicente added a second goal a minute into stoppage time and it proved crucial as Igor Gabilondo pulled a goal back for Bilbao in stoppage time.
Earlier on loan French striker Florent Sinama Pongolle scored twice in five minutes as 10-man Real Zaragoza came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home to Sporting Gijon on Saturday.
Zaragoza stay bottom of the table despite the point but it could have been worse having trailed 2-0 with one player less after the dismissal of former Chelsea defender Jiri Jarosik two minutes after the break.
However, the hosts scored twice in five minutes to stun Gijon with former Liverpool striker Pongolle, on loan from Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon, scoring in the 56th minute and again in the 61st minute to change the course of the match.
