Valencia remain firmly on the coat-tails of the pace-setters after easing to victory over nine-man Osasuna.

Goals from David Villa, David Albelda and Carlos Marchena ensured a routine victory for Unai Emery's men, who remain fourth, just four points behind leaders Real Madrid.

Osasuna offered little in the way of a fight at the Estadio Reyno de Navarra and were already three goals down when striker Walter Pandiani saw red midway through the second half for a second bookable offence.

The hosts briefly rallied and pulled one back through substitute Shojaei Massoud but the night ended on a sour note as Osasuna were reduced to nine when Miguel Flano received a straight red for a professional foul.

Osasuna's fifth defeat of the season drops Jose Antonio Camacho's men to 12th place.

The writing was on the wall early when Spain international Villa fired in a sighter for the visitors after seven minutes, his effort from 20 yards sailing just wide.

The breakthrough came five minutes later after good work down the left by Marchena, who crossed for Villa to fire home right-footed from inside the area.

The hosts were struggling to make any inroads into the Valencia half and fell further behind after 20 minutes.

David Silva saw his shot charged down by the Osasuna defence but the ball fell at the feet of Albelda and the veteran midfielder made no mistake with his finish as he lobbed home from 20 yards into the top-right corner.

Silva enjoyed the only other chance of the opening period after 34 minutes but saw his long-range effort blocked by Josetxo.

The busy Silva continued to be a thorn in the side of the Osasuna defence after the restart, firing in a long-range effort after 55 minutes that just missed the target.

But the travelling fans did not have long to wait for a third goal as Marchena volleyed home a spectacular effort from the edge of the area a minute later, after the home defence only half cleared Bruno's testing cross.

Marchena almost made it four on 61 minutes when he fired wide from inside the area, but having survived that let-off, the hosts' night lurched from bad to worse four minutes later when Pandiani pushed Marchena and received his second yellow card.

Rather than retreat into their shells, the hosts came out fighting after the red card and pulled a goal back after 68 minutes.

Francisco Punal created the chance with a good delivery from the left wing that was met with a firm header by Massoud from close range.

Osasuna managed to carve out another chance before the whistle which might have teed up a grandstand finish had it gone in, but Dady saw his header from Juanfran's cross flash wide of Cesar Sanchez's right-hand post.

The hosts' miserable night was capped in stoppage time when Flano hauled down Ever Banega to receive his marching orders.