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At the San Mames stadium, Bilbao was the better side in the first half against Valencia although it struggled to carve out clear chances.

The hosts'' attack was blunted when striker Fernando Llorente was replaced by Oscar de Marcos after 30 minutes because of an injury. However, the introduction of teenage striker Iker Muniain after halftime jump-started the game. Muniain put Bilbao ahead in the 58th when he controlled a rebound from Cesar Sanchez''s save and shot home from close range.

The 16-year-old Muniain became the youngest scorer in league history earlier this year with a goal against Valladolid. Last week, Bilbao signed the player to a long-term deal that keeps him with the Basque club through 2015.

Valencia''s David Villa equalized three minutes later from Pablo Hernandez''s cross. Bilbao was reduced to 10 men when Koikili Lertxundi was sent off for a second yellow card with 20 minutes to go. The Mediterranean team made the advantage count when Jeremy Mathieu followed up on a save by Bilbao keeper Gorka Iraizoz and drove home with his left foot.

Bilbao was awarded a dubious penalty five minutes from the end when Javi Martinez fell on contact with David Navarro''s arm, although David Lopez hit the post. "We''re very happy because we have had some big wins recently at difficult places like this,'''' said Villa, on Valencia moving above Sevilla in the standings to 28 points. Bilbao remains in eighth place on 20.

Barcelona leads the standings with 36 points, five more than second-place Real Madrid but having played a game more.

Earlier, Aritz Aduriz scored twice to help Mallorca beat Zaragoza 4-1, while Racing Santander defeated Espanyol 4-0 with two goals from Sergio Canales.