Winger Juan Mata struck a winner two minutes from the end as Valencia prevailed 3-2 after Sporting Gijon had twice come back to level at El Molinon.
Mata's strike was made all the more valuable for Los Che as it moved them into fourth place above Villarreal, who lost 2-0 at home to Malaga on Saturday, and into a Champions League qualification place.
Valencia had twice gone ahead either side of the break through David Silva and a David Villa penalty. But Sporting, who are just three points above the drop zone, got back on level terms on both occasions with David Barral's penalty and a Mate Bilic header ten minutes from time seemingly giving them a share of the spoils.
But Mata delivered the decisive blow in emphatic style with a crisply-hit twenty metre shot that flew in to the bottom-left corner of the goal.