Valencia vs Barcelona – La Liga as it happened
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Your support makes all the difference.Lionel Messi's equaliser earned off-colour Barcelona a point against Valencia after Ezequiel Garay had put the hosts in front. Re-live the action:
What time does it start?
Valencia vs Barcelona kicks off at 7:45pm (BST)
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on Eleven Sports 1, with coverage starting from 7:40pm. Eleven Sports subscribers can also watch the game via the online video player or the Eleven Sports app.
Highlights will be shown at midnight on the same channel.
It’s a big game for…
Nelson Semedo: The Portuguese right-back has struggled with life with the Catalan giants so far and his display against Spurs at Wembley was an example of that. He was overly cautious when attempting to support the visitors’ attack and looked defensively out of sorts, committing to ground too early for Kane’s goal and was very lucky to not gift a chance to Lucas Moura late on due to a lack of awareness.
Remember when…
Lionel Messi has struck up fruitful partnerships with many Barcelona forwards over the years, but his on-the-field connection with left-back Jordi Alba is something that has created its fair share of goals too. That was precisely the case in November last year, when the former Valencia left-back scored a stunning equaliser from Messi’s lofted pass after Rodrigo had opened the scoring for the hosts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwTXwL_IM2A
Player to watch…
Geoffrey Kondogbia: The Frenchman ran the show in the Champions League this week against a lacklustre Manchester United midfield, alongside the more diminutive Parejo. Nevertheless he will face a much sterner test when he battles it out with Sergio Busquets on Sunday night. He may also have the best chance in the Valencia side of stopping Lionel Messi due to his ability to come from nowhere and win the ball, and therefore a lot of Valencia’s success in both boxes will come down to the former Monaco man.
Past three-meetings…
Barcelona 2 (Suarez, Umtiti) Valencia 1 (Parejo pen), La Liga, April 2018
Valencia 0 Barcelona 2 (Coutinho, Rakitic), Copa del Rey, February 2018
Barcelona 1 (Suarez) Valencia 0, Copa del Rey, February 2018
Odds…
Valencia to win: 19/5
Barcelona to win: 8/13
Draw: 3/1
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
Valencia 1-1 Barcelona
We're back underway at the Mestalla. Can Barcelona get a victory that would take them back top?
PSG 1-0 Lyon
45 minutes
Four minutes of added time will be played in Paris following a number of stoppages during the half.
Red card! Now Lyon are down to ten men. It's a second yellow for Lucas Tousart for a fowl on Mbappe.
Valencia 1-1 Barcelona
50 minutes
Coutinho cuts inside and fires a shot at goal, but it's well held by Neto.
It's half time in Paris where PSG lead Lyon 1-0. There's been a penalty, two red cards and plenty of chances. Neymar's goal, as it stands, is all that separates the sides.
Valencia 1-1 Barcelona
55 minutes
Messi weaves his way around a group of white shirts in the box and shoots from a tight angle. Again, Neto is in the way.
Valencia 1-1 Barcelona
60 minutes
Gameiro is picked out on the far side of the box after some sloppy play by Arthur in midfield. The Frenchman's shot, though, is high and wide.
Valencia 1-1 Barcelona
66 minutes
Both teams have created chances - and both look vulnerable defensively - but neither team's forwards have capitalised. It's certainly open, so can either side edge this one?
Valencia 1-1 Barcelona
67 minutes
Rodrigo, of Bolton Wanderers fame, has replaced Gameiro for Valencia. Perhaps he will be the man to change this game.
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