Rufete puts Valencia back top
Rufete netted in the 24th minute to give his side only their fourth victory of the season away from the Mestalla.
The result lifts Valencia a point ahead of
Elsewhere, Patrick Kluivert's hat-trick - which included two penalties - helped Barcelona to a 5-1 victory over Malaga that takes them up to fourth place in la Liga.
Philippe Cocu netted after two minutes, and Javier Saviola and Kluivert also hit the net as Barcelona effectively won the game in the first half.
Ivan Leko pulled a goal back for Malaga in the second half, before Kluivert scored two more.
Alaves recovered from going a goal behind to Valladolid's Fernando Sales to win 3-1 through strikes from Magno Mocelin and Delfi Geli Roura's brace.
Osasuna went ahead against Real Sociedad through Fernando's strike seven minutes after the break, but Luiz Alberto da Silva struck back for John Toshack's side 23 minutes from time.
Samuel Eto'o's early strike for Mallorca put them ahead against relegation rivals Rayo Vallecano before Paunovic added a second with five minutes remaining.
Tenerife drew 1-1 with Espanyol as Bichi Fuertes's early strike was equalised by and Raul Tamudo.
In the evening game, Athletic Bilbao beat Las Palmas 3-1 with talented youngster Tiko hitting another cracking effort for the Basque side.
Yeste scored a superb opener four minutes before the break and exchanged passes with Ismael Urzaia before lofting a 25-yard drive over opposition keeper Nacho Gonzalez.
The lead was doubled from a close range strike from Jose Etxeberria 12 minutes after the break, although Gonzalez netted his fourth of the season from the penalty spot for Las Palmas.
Tiko curled home a superb free kick to secure his side victory and fifth place in the table 21 minutes from time.
Click below for further analysis of Sunday's games:
Alaves 3 Valladolid 1
Athletic Bilbao 3 Las Palmas 1
Barcelona 5 Malaga 1
Osasuna 1 Real Sociedad 1
Rayo Vallecano 0 Mallorca 2
Zaragoza 0 Valencia 1
Tenerife 1 Espanyol 1
