First Division - Day 28

Barcelona 4 - Valencia 2

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Mascherano, Piqué, Umtiti; Rafinha (André Gomes 74’), Busquets, Rakitic (Sergi Roberto 65’), Iniesta; Messi, Luis Suárez, Neymar. 3-4-3.
Valencia: Diego Alves; Montoya, Garay, Mangala, Gayà; Carlos Soler, Enzo Pérez, Dani Parejo; Cancelo (Bakkali 84’), Munir (Zaza 73’), Orellana (Abdennour 46’). 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 28. Mangala. Got above markers to head Dani Parejo corner past Ter Stegen.
1-1. 35. Luis Suárez. Ran on to Neymar throw-in and steered shot wide of Alves.
2-1. 45. Messi (penalty). After Mangala pulled back Luis Suárez inside the area.
2-2. 45+1. Munir. Turned shot past keeper after Gayà passed across on breakaway
3-2. 52. Messi. Picked up Mascherano pass and fired shot inside the near post.
4-2. 89. André Gomes. Got on the end of Neymar centre to turn shot past keeper.

Yellow cards: Enzo Pérez 24’, Mangala 39’, Dani Parejo 43’, Iniesta 67’, André Gomes 77’, Messi 86’, Montoya 91’ / red cards: Mangala 44’.

Barcelona kept up pace with Real Madrid going in to the short international break, a 4-2 victory over Valencia in the last match on Sunday keeping them two points behind the leaders having played one game more. The locals had the better chances early on, Diego alves havig to save from Luis Suárez, Orellana clearing off the line from Messi, and Messi curling another shot just over the top. However Ter Stegen had to keep out Carlos Soler and Munir, and with just under half an hour gone Mangala gave the visitors the lead with a header from Dani Parejo’s corner. Soon afterwards though Luis Suárez made it all square after latching on to a Neymar throw-in, and with half time approaching Mangala was sent off for pulling back Súarez in the area, Messi converting the resulting penalty kick. A minute later Munir levelled it again on a breakaway straight from the kick-off, but some seven minutes in to the second half Messi got his second of the night after picking up a pass from Mascherano. Iniesta, Rafinha and Messi all came up against Alves after that, and Neymar fired a free kick against the woodwork, but with a minute to go André Gomes got on the end of Neymar’s cross to score his first goal for the club, the ex Valencia midfielder (like Munir earlier on) not celebrating the goal out of respect for his old side.