VALENCIA - Luis Fabiano was again his side's goal hero as Sevilla moved into the Champions League places after recording only their ninth victory in 63 league visits to Valencia.
La Liga's leading scorer took his season tally to 22 with two early goals as Sevilla moved into fourth place above Atletico Madrid, who play bottom club Levante on Sunday.
Raul Albiol pulled a late goal back for Valencia, but it could not prevent the home side from suffering their 12th defeat of a miserable season and slipping closer to the relegation dogfight.
Luis Fabiano gave an early warning to the Valencia defence when he broke their offside trap in the sixth minute only to drag his shot across the face of goal with just Timo Hildebrand to beat.
The in-form Brazil international was so profligate with his next chance four minutes later, as he put Sevilla ahead with a superb free-kick.
A foul on Frederic Kanoute just outside the Valencia area to the left of centre gave Luis Fabiano his opportunity, and the former Sao Paulo striker took full advantage by curling a shot over the wall and into the near top corner of Hildebrand's net.
That was Luis Fabiano's 21st goal in 21 league games this season and he scored again 10 minutes later with his second of the match after deflecting in Seydou Keita's 25-yard strike.
A dangerous Sevilla attack was only half-cleared by home full-back Miguel as far as Keita and, although the Mali international's well-struck shot looked to be heading wide, Luis Fabiano showed good reactions to divert it past Hildebrand from inside the area.
Only Primera Liga bottom club Levante had lost more than Valencia's record of six league defeats at home this season, and Ronald Koeman's side knew they needed a quick response or risk suffering yet another setback in front of their own fans.
Javier Arizmendi almost provided it in the 23rd minute after robbing Julien Escude of the ball, but his shot flew across the face of goal and the chance was lost.
Valencia looked more lively at the start of the second half, and David Silva came close to pulling a goal back in the 55th minute.
The Spain international cleverly worked himself some space on the edge of the box before firing in a shot was heading for the top corner until Aquivaldo Mosquera got his head in the way and deflected it behind.
Three minutes after that Juan Mata had an opportunity for the hosts after being slipped in by David Villa, but his low left-footed shot was saved by the feet of Andres Palop.
That was Mata's last action of the match, as he was immediately replaced by Fernando Morientes who was making his first appearance in three months after recovering from injury.
Morientes could do little to get Valencia back into the game though, and at the other end only a superb block by Hildebrand denied Luis Fabiano his hat-trick.
Hildebrand continued to be the busier of the goalkeepers and with 15 minutes remaining he had to tip over a rising Diego Capel shot, while from the resulting corner Federico Fazio's header was cleared off the line by Miguel.
Just as the game looked to be drifting to a predictable close, Valencia pulled a goal back in the 89th minute when the unmarked Albiol tapped home at the far post after Edu had volleyed Joaquin Sanchez's corner goalwards.
However, there was not enough time left after that for Valencia to build on the goal, and they are now just five points above the drop zone following Recreativo Huelva's win on Saturday night.
