Getafe bounced back from going a goal down early on to inflict a first defeat of the season on Valencia.
And complete a miserable few days for Unai Emery's team
Much of the build-up to Wednesday's match had focussed on David Villa's comments following Sunday's 2-2 home draw with Sporting Gijon, when the Spain striker appeared to question coach Emery's tactics after Valencia failed to hold onto a 2-1 lead against a side that had been down to 10 men since the 23rd mi! nute.
Villa subsequently apologised for the comments and claimed they were not directed at any individual but at the team as a whole, while Emery yesterday declared the matter closed.
And when Villa put Valencia ahead with his fifth goal of the season tonight it was all smiles for the east-coast side.
However, that was not to last as a brace from Manu del Moral and a brilliant free-kick from Pedro Leon saw Getafe earn their second win of the season.
The home side created the first decent chance of the match in the 16th minute, which Manu headed wide, but it was Valencia who went ahead first thanks to Villa.
The in-form hitman had already gone close in the 20th minute when he almost poked a shot past Oscar Ustari, but there was no denying the prolific hitman two minutes later as Valencia scored a brilliant team goal.
A slick one-touch move involving Juan Manuel Mata and Joaquin resulted in the latter getting in behind the Getafe defe! nce, and his first-time pass inside was controlled by Villa on! his che st before he slammed a left-footed shot past Ustari.
It was a goal out of the top drawer and was just the boost Valencia would have been looking for following the last few days.
Their joy was short-lived, though, as within 60 seconds they had lost their advantage and within 16 minutes they were trailing 2-1.
Manu's equaliser came after former Valencia winger Jaime Gavilan did well down the left, chesting the ball past his marker - losing his boot in the process - before pulling a pass back to Javi Casquero, whose mis-hit shot fell kindly for Manu at the far post and he had the simple task of slotting home.
That was Manu's first goal of the season but he did not have to wait much longer for number two as he put Getafe in front seven minutes before the break.
Again the former Atletico Madrid striker was in the right place at the right time to guide home a header at the far post after Leon's right-wing corner had flicked off the head of Valenc! ia defender Jeremy Mathieu at the near post.
Getafe were good value for their half-time lead, and they further strengthened their grip on the game in the second period - when Leon was outstanding.
Adrian came close with a low shot that visiting goalkeeper Miguel Moya did well to push around the post, while from the resulting corner Gavilan saw a goal ruled out for a marginal offside.
Leon then came close to netting after skipping inside Mathieu and Hedwiges Maduro before firing over when well placed, before the same player brought a good save out of Moya from a free-kick.
That proved to be just a sighter for the 22-year-old though, as two minutes later he beat Moya with a magnificent effort from 25 yards out that curled into the top corner.
There was no way back for Valencia after that, and Getafe might even have added further goals with Leon curling another free-kick just over and Gavilan being denied by Moya before Villa headed a great c! hance wide late on for sorry Valencia.
