Navarro strikes as Valencia beat Malaga 1-0 in La Liga

Valencia reclaimed fourth spot from Real Mallorca thanks to a fortunate 1-0 win over bottom side Malaga last night with defender David Navarro's first goal of the season clinching the points.

Valencia reclaimed fourth spot from Real Mallorca thanks to a fortunate 1-0 win over bottom side Malaga last night with defender David Navarro's first goal of the season clinching the points.

Valencia defender David Navarro celebrates after scoring against Malaga last night. pic/afp

Centre-back Navarro jumped highest at the back post to head in a Pablo Hernandez cross for the winning goal on 68 minutes as Valencia moved a point behind third-placed Sevilla.

"No games are easy and this one against Malaga certainly wasn't," said Valencia coach Unai Emery. "It was a tough game in which we had our chances but so did Malaga and we needed a big save from Cesar (Sanchez) towards the end."

Malaga continue to prop up the table having not won since the opening day of the season when they thrashed Atletico Madrid 3-0.

David Villa, the league's joint top-scorer with seven goals, almost scored for Valencia in the third minute when his cross crashed against the post to safety.

Juan Mata then had a goal ruled out for offside and Pablo Hernandez went agonisingly close with a drive as Malaga were over-run.