FC Barcelona and Valencia split on the score of 1-1 in Mestalla. A result that does not do the business of the Blaugranas or the Murcielagos… It’s been four consecutive Liga matches since Barça won.
The poster of the day on the other side of the Pyrenees took place in Mestalla, where Valencia hosted FC Barcelona. Both teams came to this Spanish shock with doubts, both of them achieving rather average results in recent weeks. Ernesto Valverde was on the same eleven as Tottenham, the only good match the Catalans had played recently, with Thomas Vermaelen starting instead of Clément Lenglet. It was also necessary to point out the absence of Malcom from the group, which was therefore present in the stands. On the Valencia side, Marcelino also brought out the heavy artillery, with a surprise: the absence of Rodrigo Moreno, who was thus starting the game on the sidelines. The two teams eventually parted on a score of 1-1.
And the Barcelonese were going to be picked cold from the start. On the left side of the left corner of the attack, and after the leather was deflected by Vermaelen and pinned, Ezequiel Garay, alone on the second post, had only to put his foot to make the Nets tremble (1-0, 2e). On a counter-attack well led by Guedes, Batshuayi saw the ball slip a few centimeters from ter Stegen’s left post (6′). The Barça was in the tough and Kondogbia, this time on a distant attempt, was also close to signing the second (7th). But after only 11 minutes of play, Gonçalo Guedes, wounded, had to go out and leave his place to Denis Cheryshev. Bad news as the Portuguese was particularly good at the start of the game. Michy Batshuayi, often found in the front, still solicited the Barcelona doorman, who answered present (12′).
Very late changes on the catalan side
But Lionel Messi wasn’t going to be mute for long. After a nice-a-two with Suarez, he would place a perfect shot from outside the area to even (1-1, 23′). Barça had taken the upper hand in the game, putting his foot on the ball and taking on the hottest situations. The pace was a little off, but Valencia still knew how to be dangerous, like this attack from Gaya after this very well managed offensive transition (38′). The Barcelonans controlled the game, however, with a good Luis Suarez at the outposts. Guedes ‘ injury was felt in Valencia… As soon as he returned after the break, Denis Cheryshev was close to finding the fault on this beautiful coiled (47′).
The second half started at a very high pace, with a very active Lionel Messi on the Barcelona side, while opposite, the duo Batshuayi-Gameiro showed some interesting things. The meeting seemed to tip over on both sides, but paradoxically, there were no real opportunities. Minutes passed, and no clear winner stood out… Lionel Messi was close to giving himself a double after this beautiful candle of Busquets, but the star of the Albiceleste could not find the setting (80’). It was also worth noting Arthur’s good match in the Catalan midfield, when Valverde had waited for the 84th to make his first change, leaving Coutinho to bring Dembélé in. The score has not changed, and Barça will go down as second in the league, having not won for 4 days in the league.