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MADRID, Spain (AP) -Manuel Fernandes' second-half goal gave Valencia a 1-0 victory at Valladolid on Sunday to reclaim top spot in the Spanish league.
The Portugal midfielder took David Villa's backheel pass and sent the ball low into the net in the 54th minute. The win gives Valencia 16 points and it leads Villarreal on goal difference.
Juanma Mata, who had a volley saved in the 23rd, nearly added an insurance goal in the 73rd but the Valencia winger's hard shot from just inside the area rolled wide.
Valencia goalkeeper Renan saved Pedro Leon's in-swinging free kick earlier before substitute Damian Escudero sent a hard shot over the bar in the 79th as Valencia won its fourth straight league game.
Earlier, Sevilla trounced Athletic Bilbao 4-0 for its third straight league win to trail the leaders by two points.
Jesus Nava provided Frederic Kanoute with a pass into the area for the 27th-minute opener before the Spanish winger crossed for Renato to head home in the 41st. Adriano added a third in the 77th before Ernesto Chevanton completed the rout in the 82nd.
Sevilla has 14 points after an impressive start, one better than FC Barcelona. Real Madrid, which has 12 points, played Espanyol in a late game.
In Sunday's other sixth-round of league games, it was: Getafe 2, Almeria 2; Recreativo Huelva 0, Malaga 4; Mallorca 0, Sporting Gijon 2; Osasuna 0, Racing Santander 1; and Deportivo La Coruna 1, Numancia 0.
With Spain coach Vicente del Bosque looking on, Almeria striker Alvaro Negredo headed home his fifth goal of the season in the 87th to cut Getafe's lead before defender Jose Manuel "Chico" Flores equalized with an injury-time header.
Ikechukwu Uche had given Getafe a 69th-minute lead after shooting under Diego Alves, before Javier Casquero nudged the ball over the Brazil goalkeeper for his second score in as many games.
At the Nuevo Colombino stadium, Portuguese striker Eliseu scored two goals - including in the opening minute - Nabil Baha headed in a corner in the 40th and Duda scored on a counterattack in Malaga's impressive away win.
Sporting moved out of last place thanks to its first victory of the season.
Carmelo Gonzalez slotted in at the near post from a tight angle in the 12th and defender Roberto Canella's quick left-footed shot in the 51st beat goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya into the far corner.
