Spanish Primera Division: Valencia up to third

Valencia moved up to third in the Primera Division after getting back to winning ways with a comfortable 3-1 victory over struggling Elche.

Los Che were beaten at Deportivo La Coruna last week but showed no signs of the first defeat of their league season affecting them at the Mestalla, with Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi opening the scoring after 13 minutes.

Dani Parejo headed the hosts further in front before David Lomban compounded a miserable evening for Elche by turning into his own net just after the hour mark although Jonathas grabbed a consolation in time added on.

All three Valencia goals came from Pablo Piatti corners with Elche's also coming in a similar manner.

While Real Madrid's El Clasico win earlier in the night denied Valencia the chance to move up to second, they still climbed up a place, above Sevilla, who could move up to second if they win against Villarreal on Sunday night.

Desperate to put last week's defeat behind them, Nuno's men started in the ascendancy, with Piatti's strike only just missing the target.

Yet the Argentinian would go on to play a crucial role in the contest, providing the first of his three assists just before the quarter of an hour mark when his corner from the left led to Mustafi rising highest to head home.

Valencia were two goals to the good after 18 minutes from another set-piece as Piatti's inswinging corner from the right was glanced in at the near post by Parejo.

Elche were being penned back into their own half and on the rare chance they managed to get forward, they did not threaten.

The home side were utterly dominant in the air as Paco Alcacer headed just wide from Andre Gomes' cross.

Valencia's dominance extended to after the interval, with Piatti shooting wide when well placed while Nicolas Otamendi's header from the midfielder's free-kick was saved by Elche goalkeeper Manu Herrera.

But Valencia extended their lead in the 64th minute when another Piatti corner took a final touch off Lomban at the front post which left Herrera with no chance.

Alvaro Negredo, on loan from Manchester City, made his debut for Los Che in the closing stages, watched on by new Valencia owner Peter Lim.

Yet the 29-year-old Negredo, who was making his comeback from a broken metatarsal having been out since July, had little impact in the final seven minutes.

Elche ended a forgettable night with a flourish as Jonathas headed home from Faycal Fajr's centre in the second minute of stoppage time but it mattered little to the overall result.