The center back scored the only goal of the game as the home side moved up to sixth in La Liga.
A Shkodran Mustafi header was enough for Valencia to see off Granada 1-0 at Mestalla on Friday.
The Germany defender was the unlikely hero for the home team after nodding in a cross from Zakaria Bakkali on 26 minutes.
The slender victory is only Valencia's second of the season in La Liga and represents a welcome boost for coach Nuno Espirito Santo ahead of Tuesday's Champions League trip to Lyon.
The host had picked up just one point from its last two league outings following the disappointing 3-2 reverse at home to Zenit in Europe.