Sofiane Feghouli scored and Gent conceded an own goal as Valencia took the points in their Champions League encounter.
Nuno Santo made one change to the side that beat Malaga, introducing Feghouli for Pablo Piatti, and it paid dividends as the forward opened the scoring in the first half.
UEFA however credited the goal to Gent defender Lasse Nielsen, and did likewise when it appeared Jose Gaya had cancelled out Thomas Foket’s equaliser, Stefan Mitrovic eventually being given the dubious honour of finding his own net.
Santi Mina and Dani Parejo had at 1-0 pulled a double save from Gent goalkeeper Matz Sels while Paco Alcacer also had a chance late in the game.
Juame Domenech had to keep out Moses Simon in injury time as Valencia took victory amid an unsettled Mestalla, with audible whistles when Parejo was replaced in the second half.
Valencia 2-1 Gent
Feghouli 15 (V), Foket 40 (G), Mitrovic o.g 72
Valencia: Domenech; Cancelo, Mustafi, Santos, Gaya; Fuego, Parejo (Rodrigo 68), Gomes; Feghouli, Alcacer (Danilo 82), Mina (Piatti 61)
Gent: Sels; Mitrovic, Asare, Nielsen, Matton (Simon 84); Neto, Kums, Saeif, Foket; Milicevic, Depoitre
