Eliaquim Mangala scored his first goal for almost three years to earn Valencia an important victory at home to Leganes on Tuesday evening.
The French centre half swept home from close-range after an initial header had been blocked from a corner just after the half-hour mark at the Mestalla.
It was Mangala’s first goal since an April 2014 strike for FC Porto at home to Sevilla in the Europa League and he has failed to score in any of his 64 appearances for Manchester City before joining Los Che on a season-long loan deal in summer.
The 26-year-old’s strike was enough to down Leganes, who had Alberto sent off for a second yellow card ten minutes from time.
The result moves Valencia up to 12th in the table – one point ahead of Las Palmas – while Leganes remain 16th.
