Valencia 1 Barcelona 1: Winless run extends for La Liga champion

Sevilla will head into the October international break as the La Liga leader after champion Barcelona could only draw away to Valencia.

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez reacts during his side's 1-1 draw to Valencia on Sunday.

Lionel Messi scored a brilliant equaliser as Barcelona's winless run in La Liga stretched to four matches following a 1-1 draw at Valencia.

Ezequiel Garay capitalised on terrible marking to convert a corner in the second minute, but Valencia was unable to make the most of its early dominance at Mestalla on Sunday.

 

Messi levelled midway through the first half with a wonderful strike from outside the penalty area, although Barca, which beat Tottenham 4-2 in the Champions League in midweek, could not find a winner.

Pressure on Ernesto Valverde will grow over the international break, after which Barca will travel to La Liga's surprise leader Sevilla, which moved top with a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo.

Valencia led in the second minute, Garay arriving at the back post to tap in after a Dani Parejo corner was inadvertently flicked on by Gerard Pique and Thomas Vermaelen.

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Michy Batshuayi and Geoffrey Kondogbia both came close to doubling Valencia's lead as Marcelino's men made a fine start, although Goncalo Guedes' iSnjury curbed their potency.

Barca levelled in the 23rd minute, Messi drilling home from 25 yards after a one-two with Luis Suarez that involved a nutmeg on the helpless Kondogbia.

Kevin Gameiro crashed a shot just wide in the 61st minute as Valencia continued to threaten, then Jose Gaya made a sensational challenge to deny Philippe Coutinho. Messi fired into the side netting and Suarez saw a brace of late penalty appeals rejected, and problems are mounting for Barca and Valverde after missing the chance to reclaim top spot.

What does it mean: Title race wide open

Barcelona won its first four league games of 2018-19 and looked on track to defend its title, but a run of four matches without a victory - its longest such sequence since April 2016 - has tightened things up at the top of La Liga. Luckily for Barca, Real Madrid has lost form at the same time, with Atletico Madrid bouncing back from a slow start to sit third.

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After eight rounds, just two points splits the top six in the league and, while Barca and Madrid will expect to pull away, the league has a refreshing look with Sevilla top.

Messi magic spares Barca blushes

Barca could have easily lost this game and, had Valencia been more clinical, it could have led by two or three in the opening 15 minutes. But Messi - who scored twice in the Wembley win last time out for Barca - hauled his team to a draw with a typically brilliant goal. He could not find a decisive goal this time, but Messi is keeping a stuttering Barca afloat.

Batshuayi wasteful for host

Valencia has only won once in La Liga this season and that can partly be chalked up to a failure to convert its chances. Batshuayi has scored once in the league after joining on loan from Chelsea and the striker could have had a hat-trick. The clinical forward who shone for Borussia Dortmund last term was absent.

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What's next?

After the international break it's a top-of-the-table clash for Barca as it heads to Sevilla on October 20, with Valencia hosting struggling Leganes on the same day.

Key Opta stats:  - Luis Suarez has now assisted more La Liga goals for Lionel Messi than any other player, surpassing Dani Alves (26). - Arthur Melo attempted 142 passes against Valencia (135 successfully), the most by a player in a La Liga game this season.  - Barcelona conceded its fastest La Liga goal (78 seconds) since December 2011 (Karim Benzema, 21 seconds).  - Valencia has drawn more games than any other side in Europe’s big five leagues this season (six).