The visitors proved to be stubborn opponents and kept the scores all square at half-time.
However, the deadlock was broken five minutes into the second period, as Gaizka Mendieta (pictured) drove the ball home from the penalty spot, after he missed a spot kick in the first-half..
The points were made safe at the Mestalla, when Kily Gonzalez fired home a fine long-range effort with 25 minutes remaining.
Barcelona put their recent poor league form behind them, but they were made to work extremely hard to see off basement club Osasuna, 2-0.
Both goals came in the second-half, with Patrick Kluivert breaking the deadlock after 68 minutes and Sergi adding a second, spectacular, goal in injury time.
Rayo Vallecano`s fine run of form was ended at the San Mames stadium, as they were beaten 4-2 at Athletic Bilbao.
The home side took the lead after five minutes through Ismael Urzaiz, and the advantage was doubled on 11 minutes when Sergio Ballesteros put the ball through his own net.
Jose Quevedo reduced the deficit on 15 minutes, but Bilbao made the score 3-1 when Julen Guerrero fired home.
On the hour, Quevedo fired his second, but as Vallecano pushed forward for an equaliser, Guerrero took advantage to make the score 4-2 with three minutes remaining.
Malaga moved into the dizzy heights of mid-table, with a 3-1 home win over Alaves. Dario Silva opened the scoring on the quarter-hour, while Dely Valdes added a brace to make the score 3-0. Ibon Begona replied on 87 minutes, but it was a mere consolation.
Numancia`s poor run continued, as they fell to a 1-0 home defeat by Las Palmas. The Islanders` goal came from a long-range Jorge free-kick on 48 minutes.
Espanyol travelled from Barcelona and claimed all three points with a 2-1 win over Racing Santander. Moises Arteaga opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 33 minutes and Raul Tamudo doubled the advantage shortly after half-time.
The home side pressed forward and their persistence was rewarded when Sigurd Rushfeldt nodded home with 12 minutes remaining, but they could not find an equaliser.
Real Valladolid secured a 2-1 home win over Real Sociedad, with first-half goals by Jesus Sanchez and Jose Antonio Garcia Calvo proving enough, despite Oscar de Paula causing a few nervous flutters when he scored in the last minute.
