Jose Mourinho's men left the Mestalla with a 3-2 win following a see-saw affair.

Karim Benzema put them ahead before the break with a wonderful volley, before Sergio Ramos made it two.

Roberto Soldado then brought Valencia back into things, only for Cristiano Ronaldo to reopen his side's two-goal advantage.

But Soldado scored again to set up a tense finish, during which he had a hat-trick goal chalked off for offside, his side hit the bar with a header and also had a penalty appeal turned down.

Second-placed Barcelona continued their prolific home form this season with a convincing 4-0 victory over Real Zaragoza.

Gerard Pique and Lionel Messi netted in the first half to put Barca on course for the win and second-half strikes from Carles Puyol and David Villa completed the scoring.

The result means Barca have now netted 30 times in their seven Primera Division home games this season, while it is 11 matches ago since the European champions conceded a league goal at the Nou Camp.

For Zaragoza, the loss means they have now taken just one point from their last five games and they remain in trouble near the relegation zone.

Elsewhere, Villarreal leapfrogged Real Betis to move into the top half of the table for the first time this season thanks to Borja Valero's solitary first-half goal.