Barcelona set new Liga record of 39 games unbeaten with Valencia win
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Updated 14/04/2018 at 19:23 GMT
La Liga, Camp Nou - Barcelona 2 (Suarez 15', Umtiti 51') Valencia 1 (Parejo pen 87')
Barcelona's Luis Suarez celebrates scoring their first goal
Image credit: Reuters
Barcelona bounced back from their collapse at Roma with a 2-1 win over Valencia, stretching their lead at the top of La Liga to 14 points.
Ernesto Valverde picked a strong side for the game against third place Valencia, with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Andres Iniesta and Philippe Coutinho all selected. There was also a starting place for Gerard Pique, despite the fact the centre back has been playing with an injury for weeks.
Despite a sluggish start, the Catalans look the lead after 15 minutes. Coutinho threaded a wonderful pass through to Luis Suarez who made no mistake in finishing at the near post. And Barca doubled their advantage in the second half, with Samuel Umtiti losing his marker from a corner to head home.
Valencia gave themselves a late lifeline, winning a penalty kick following a foul in the box by substitute Ousmane Dembele. Dani Parejo converted from the spot with just minutes left to play, but the hosts saw out the win to tighten their grip on first place at the top of the Liga table.
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Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi kicks the ball during the Spanish league footbal match between FC Barcelona and Valencia CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 14, 2018
Image credit: Getty Images
TALKING POINT - Where would Barcelona be without Marc-Andre Tee Stegen?
Were it not for their goalkeeper, Barcelona would have been behind at half time. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen pulled off a number of saves to keep Valencia at arm’s length, with his best seeing him deny Rodrigo from about 10 yards out. It was a loose pass from Ter Stegen that led to the opportunity in the first place, but he more than made amends for it. It might well go down as the save of the season, even if he could have done better with the Valencia penalty. Ter Stegen makes saves like this almost every week. Where would Barca be without him?
MAN OF THE MATCH - Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona)
With every passing week, Coutinho looks increasingly at home in his new surroundings. Of course, the Brazilian playmaker was cup-tied for the Champions League and so missed the catastrophic defeat to Roma during the week. In this form, Barcelona might have got out of jail had Coutinho been available. With Lionel Messi uncharacteristically subdued it was up to Coutinho to take a grip of the game. He was exceptional.
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Barcelona's Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho (L) vies with Valencia's Spanish midfielder Daniel Parejo during the Spanish league footbal match between FC Barcelona and Valencia CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 14, 2018
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Barcelona - Ter Stegen 8, Roberto 6, Pique 5, Umtiti 6, Alba 5, Paulinho 5, Busquets 6, Iniesta 7, Messi 6, Suarez 6, Coutinho 8. Subs - Denis 6, Dembele 4, Semedo.
Valencia - Neto 6, Vezo 5, Garay 6, Gabriel 6, Gaya 7, Soler 6, Parejo 6, Kondogbia 5, Guedes 8, Rodrigo 7, Mina 6. Subs - Vietto 5, Zaza 6, Pereira 6.
KEY MOMENTS
15’ GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Valencia: There's the opening goal of the game and it has been scored by Suarez for the hosts! Coutinho played a wonderful ball to the Barcelona striker who made no mistake in finishing past Neto! 1-0 to the Catalans.
22’ JUST WIDE! That wasn't far away from an equaliser for Valencia. The ball fell to Guedes, but his shot flashes wide of the near post following a deflection off Alba. That was close!
28’ BIG VALENCIA CHANCE! That probably should have been the equaliser for the visitors. A poor pass is seized upon, with Rodrigo firing off a shot inside the box, but Ter Stegen makes the save.
51’ PIQUE OFF THE LINE! Yet another big chance for Valencia! The visitors broke on the counter, with Mina feeding Rodrigo. He got the shot away, but Pique got back on the line to clear.
53’ GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Valencia: Out of nothing, Barcelona have doubled their advantage! Umtiti got up from the back and headed home, getting in between two Valencia players from a corner kick. The hosts now have a commanding 2-0 lead!
86’ PENALTY KICK TO VALENCIA! Dembele was adjudged to have fouled Gaya inside the area and the referee points to the spot.
87’ GOAL! Barcelona 2-1 Valencia: Valencia have a late lifeline in this match! Parejo squeezes the penalty kick underneath the body at Ter Stegen. The German goalkeeper should have done better there. He guessed the right way. Valencia are back in this!
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Philippe Coutinho of FC Barcelona takes a corner kick during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Valencia at Camp Nou on April 14, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain
Image credit: Getty Images
KEY STATS
- Since joining Barcelona, Luis Suarez has scored 10 goals against Valencia in all competitions - more than against any other club.
- Liverpool set a new La Liga record, going 39 games unbeaten.
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