Sporting Gijón vs. Valencia

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.