Valencia reignited their challenge for a Champions League place by claiming their first win in seven matches with a thrilling 5-3 victory at home to relegation-threatened Cadiz in the Primera Liga on Sunday.

Leading striker David Villa and midfielder Miguel Angel Angulo scored classy doubles in a win that saw Quique Sanchez Flores's side leapfrog Osasuna to take third place.

Fellow high-fliers Osasuna lost ground after a 4-0 hiding by Bernd Schuster's Getafe in front of their own fans at the Reyno de Navarra with Serbian striker Veljko Paunovic scoring twice.

Sevilla missed a chance to close the gap on Osasuna when they lost 2-1 at Real Betis in the Seville derby and remain fifth, level on points with Celta Vigo who enjoyed a flattering 3-0 win at Atletico Madrid.

Valencia striker Villa broke his recent goal drought when he netted for the first time in eight games to put the home side into the lead with less than two minutes on the clock.

Cadiz midfielder Enrique levelled 10 minutes later, sliding in at the far post after Santiago Canizares had made a great save low to his right to keep out a free-kick.

But it was Valencia who continued to dominate and Angulo restored their lead with a cool dinked finish after a gleaming firsttime pass from Pablo Aimar shortly after the half hour.

Two minutes later defender David Navarro made it 3-1 when he headed in at the far post after Angulo had looped a free kick across the area.

Angulo struck the fourth early in the second half when he picked his spot after fellow midfielder Ruben Baraja had burst into the area, but there was still more to come.

Midfielder Jonathan Sesma pulled one back with a great diving header on 64 minutes only to see Villa score his 18th goal of the

season straight from the restart.

Valencia fans were given further cause for celebration when Brazilian midfielder Edu, formerly with Arsenal, came on for the final half hour to make his league debut seven months after tearing the cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Sesma ended the scoring with his second goal thanks to a wonderful free-kick to make it 5-3 11 minutes from time but he had little to celebrate as the defeat left his side four points behind Real Sociedad in 19th place in the 20-team standings.

TOP SIX

Team P W

Barcelona 31 21

Real Madrid 31 17

Valencia 31 15

Osasuna 31 17

Sevilla 31 15

Celta Vigo 31 16

D L G/F G/A Pts

6 4 70 27 69

7 7 56 28 58

11 5 44 28 56

4 10 41 37 55

6 10 39 32 51

3 12 34 29 51