Barcelona 1-0 Valencia: Raphinha heads 10-man La Liga leaders past relegation-threatened visitors

Barcelona held on with 10 men for the last half hour as Raphinha's goal gave them a 1-0 victory over second-bottom Valencia.

The former Leeds man made a diagonal run from the right flank to meet Sergio Busquets' perfect clipped ball over the defence with a header to put the hosts ahead on the 15-minute mark.

Sloppy defending from Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Andreas Christensen gave opportunities to equalise for Samuel Lino and ex-Barca midfielder Ilaix Moriba before the break, but both spurned the chances.

Eight minutes into the second half the game should have been put beyond doubt but, after Jules Kounde's effort was blocked by Hugo Guillamon's arm, Ferran Torres' spot-kick clipped the outside of Giorgi Mamardashvili's right-hand post.

Valencia were given a lifeline just shy of the hour when Ronald Araujo received a straight red for a clumsy tackle as the visitors' Hugo Duro threatened to go clean through.

But despite having a lot of pressure in the closing stages, Valencia could not locate an equaliser with the man advantage, with Barca's Ansu Fati going closest when he struck the inside of the post.

The win extends Barcelona's lead to 10 points ahead of Real Madrid's match later on Sunday evening. Valencia remain second bottom, two points adrift of safety.

Can Busquets end career as Barcelona's most decorated? - The likely title win this season will give Busquets nine La Liga winner's medals, moving him from a tie with his current manager Xavi, to level with Andres Iniesta. He will remain one behind Lionel Messi as his club's record holder (Real Madrid legend Paco Gento looks out of reach with 12) and, despite being 34, after his fine display in his record-making 46th Clasico appearance, the club unsurprisingly announced they were in talks with the midfielder about staying at least another season at the Nou Camp. He was just as good today with the crucial assist, as well as ensuring attacks retained intensity and, as he has for the last decade-and-a-half, ensuring the edge of his penalty area was never clear for the opposition to strike at goal.

Raphinha (Barcelona) - His set-pieces could have been better but there is little more you could fault with the Barcelona wide-man's performance, as with his fellow forwards not firing, he ensured the home side posed a threat in the opposing penalty area. The slide rule passes and crosses he provided to give chances for Fati we have come to expect, but the perfectly timed run to latch onto Busquets' pass for the goal was less familiar.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen 6; Kounde 6, Araujo 5, Christensen 6, Balde 7; Frenkie De Jong 6, Busquets 8, Sergi Roberto 7; Raphinha 8*, Ansu Fati 6; Ferran Torres 6.

Subs: Kessie 6, Garcia 6, Alarcon 6

Valencia: Mamardashvili 6; Thierry 6, Ozkacar 5, Comert 6, Jesus Vazquez 7; Moriba 6, Foulquier 6, Guillamon 6, Andre Almeida 6; Samuel Lino 6, Hugo Duro 6.

Subs: Diakhaby 6, Perez 6, Musah 6, Castillejo 6.

15' GOAL FOR BARCELONA! Busquets clips a perfect ball over the defence which Raphinha meets with a diagonal run to head over the goalkeeper for the opener.

40' AWFUL ERROR FROM TER STEGEN! Crazily he decided to control a long ball into the box with his feet and, after miscontrolling, he gave the ball to Lino whose effort was over the bar.

44' CHRISTENSEN PRESENTS A CHANCE! Another error Barca get away with. The centre-back has a heavy touch from the corner giving Moriba a chance to shoot at goal but his effort goes wide.

53' PENALTY! Kounde's shot is blocked by Guillamon's arm. He was very close to the kicker and it looks a harsh decision.

55' PENALTY MISSED! There was a little discussion about who would take the spot-kick with Lewandowski not on the field but Torres stepped up and saw his effort clip the outside of the post and go wide.

56' OFF THE POST! Raphinha plays Fati through on goal and his shot has the keeper beaten but comes back off the woodwork.