Valencia winger Juan Mata struck a winner two minutes from the end to finally put an end to Sporting Gijon's plucky challenge after they 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 20 minutes from time seemingly giving them a share of the spoils.

But Mata delivered the decisive blow in emphatic style with a crisply-hit 20-yard shot that flew in to the bottom-left corner of the goal.

Valencia's push for a Champions League berth had gained valuable momentum with back-to-back wins against Racing Santander and Getafe and they were first on the board after 18 minutes following some Silva trickery.

The Spain midfielder rode a challenge from a Sporting defender inside the area, but rather than go down and look for the penalty he dribbled past a couple more defenders before sliding a shot across Inaki Lafuente and into the net.

Sporting threatened an equaliser with Borja Enrique Neru twice forcing Sanchez Cesar into action with a couple of headers.

The home side did get their equalising goal after 34 minutes when Raul Albiol was judged to have impeded Barral in the area.

The 25-year-old striker coolly took his spot-kick by sliding the ball low and down the middle with Cesar diving to his left.

After the break Mata soon gave evidence of the influence he would have on the game.

After 52 minutes his corner to the far post found Ruano Alexis whose header forced Inaki into a save.

Two minutes later the 20-year-old striker's presence would prove more decisive as he induced Rafael Sastre into a bad challenge and won a penalty.

Villa, playing against the club where he began his career, tucked away the penalty but again Sporting found an equaliser.

It arrived after 70 minutes with Mate heading in from the right-side of the penalty area after Diego Camacho's cross had picked him out.

Sporting could now sense a repeat of their 3-2 win at the Mestalla earlier in the campaign and Barral shot over from six yards with seven minutes to go.

But with so much riding on the game for Valencia they too pushed for a winner and it duly arrived two minutes from the end when Mata drilled a left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner from 20 yards.