Ex-Italy coach Cesare Prandelli got off to a winning start in La Liga as his new Valencia side triumphed 2-1 at Sporting Gijon on Sunday, while Villarreal maintained their impressive opening to the season by thrashing Celta Vigo 5-0.

Former Atletico Madrid and Watford midfielder Suarez provided the ideal launch pad for Prandelli with a thumping right-foot drive to score in the seventh minute.

Valencia were pegged back by Carlos Castro's header just before halftime but retook the lead in the 65th minute when Suarez calmly turned a knockdown into the net.

The win took Prandelli's team out of the relegation zone and up to 14th on nine points from eight games.