Valencia open up Liga BBVA title race

Luis Enrique's side suffered a third successive league defeat, hot on the heels of their exit from the UEFA Champions League, to throw open the Liga BBVA title race. Atletico Madrid are now level on points at the stop of the standings, with Real Madrid one behind. Valencia climbed up to 12th, 11 points clear of the relegation places.

Own Goal

Barcelona started brightly peppering the visitors’ goal with chances. Luis Suarez came close on a couple of occasions and Neymar had an attempted lob palmed away by Diego Alves but it was Valencia who struck first. Full back Siqueira raced into the area from the left flank and fired low across the face of the goal only for Ivan Rakitic to slide in and deflect the ball past Claudio Bravo at his near post.

Alves saves

With halftime approaching, Barcelona won a freekick on the edge of the area when Leo Messi was fouled. The Argentine’s effort struck the wall, but he raced into the area when the ball was lobbed back in, and his header was spectacularly saved by Alves from point-blank range.

Mina strike

Valencia showed great composure keeping the ball near the Barcelona area in the final minutes of the first half, and it ended up producing a goal. Dani Parejo threaded a ball through for Sant Mina and the striker beat Bravo to double the visitors’ lead. It was the former Celta player’s fourth of the campaign and second against Barça having also scored in the 1-1 draw at Mestalla back in December.

Messi's 500th goal

Barcelona played with greater urgency after the break and their pressure finally paid off. Messi worked the ball out to the left flank and Jordi Alba squared it back to him on the penalty spot, and the Azulgrana number 10 netted the 500th goal of his professional career. A breath-taking finish to the game saw Alves make a flying one-handed save to deny Rakitic, and then Paco Alcacer and Gerard Pique both miss gilt-edged chances to add to the scores.