Valencia have moved above Real Madrid into third place in the La Liga standings with a 1-0 win over Espanyol at the Mestalla.

Los Che capitalised on the 1-1 draw between Real and Atletico Madrid earlier in the day to move above the former and close to within three points of the latter.

The only goal of the match arrived early on through Rodrigo, who found the back of the net for the 15th time this season in the league to maintain his side's impressive form.

Valencia, now with five successive wins to their name, survived an early scare as Gerard Moreno had a goal ruled out for offside and Neto produced a good save to keep out Oscar Melendo.

Some impressive work from Goncalo Guedes down the left-hand side soon after led to the breakthrough moment, with Rodrigo nodding the ball in from close range.

Neto was again called into action to thwart Moreno as Espanyol, winless in their previous five away games before this one, went in search of a leveller.

Up the other end of the field Geoffrey Kondogbia had a shot from range kept out by Pau Lopez and Guedes fired one over the crossbar.

Jurado and Sergi Darder both came close, meanwhile, as did Martin Montoya with his effort that would have ended in the net if not for Lopez.

Following a lively opening 45 minutes, Dani Parejo got away the first wayward shot of the second half and Neto was soon being worked again in the Valencia goal.

A good opportunity then came and went for Rodrigo, who flicked a header over the crossbar, and Carlos Soler was the next player to be denied by Lopez.

The second goal did not arrive, though, meaning a third game without a goal for the visitors against a Valencia side that has conceded just once in their last five during this winning run.

VALENCIA (4-4-2): Neto; Montoya, Garay, Gabriel Paulista, Gaya; Carlos Soler (Torres 89'), Parejo, Kondogbia, Guedes (Pereira 82'); Rodrigo, Zaza (Mina 79')

ESPANYOL (4-2-3-1): Pau Lopez; Navarro, Hermoso, David Lopez, Didac Vila; Darder, Jurado (Baptistao 61'), Carlos Sanchez (Granero 64'), Melendo (Garcia 83'), Piatti; Gerard Moreno