Valencia welcomed Malaga to the Mestalla on Saturday knowing that three points would have moved them level on points with fourth-placed Real Sociedad.
An incredible five-minute period in the first half brought four goals for Valencia, with Dani Parejo, Sergio Canales and a Roberto Soldado double leaving the home side with a comprehensive lead.
Malaga did have one back before the interval when Julio Baptista bent a free kick into the bottom corner. However, Valencia restored their four-goal advantage courtesy of Ever Banega after 56 minutes.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
VALENCIA: Alves; Pereira, Mathieu, Rami, Cissokho; Albelda, Banega, Parejo; Canales, Jonas, Soldado
MALAGA: Caballero; Gamez, Weligton, Demichelis, Eliseu; Joaquin, Iturra, Camacho, Isco; Baptista, Saviola