Barca grab hard-earned point against Valencia

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Barca grab hard-earned point against Valencia

FC Barcelona managed to snatch a point last night at the Mestalla were the defending champions were held 2-2 Valencia. Unai Emery’s side opened the score early in the game thanks Abidal’s own goal, only to be leveled two minutes later by Pedro. Pablo brought back the lead amid the first half but Fabregas’s late goal earned Pep Guardiola’s side a well-deserved point.

Abidal gifted the opponents an own goal in the 13^th minute following a dangerous cross from the left which Mathieu struck across the face of the goal only to be deflected home by the French defender. Valencia’s joy did not last too long as FC Barcelona leveled the score just a couple of minutes later through Pedro.

Messi traveled between Valencia’s defenders only to pick the striker with a smart through ball inside the box from where Pedro beat keeper Guaita with a superb low shot through his legs. The hosts were the first to concede a yellow card as Rami was cautioned by the referee in the 16^th minute following a foul on Fabregas.

A controversial action saw the same Rami take down Messi on the edge of the box with the Catalans claiming a penalty. The referee only gave a free kick for the away side. Mathieu delivered yet another dangerous cross in the 19^th minute but it was Puyol to clear the air and earned the home side a corner.

Messi then tried his luck with a superb volley which reached keeper’s arms after s short deflection from one of Valencia’s defenders. The 23^rd minute saw Emery’s side capture another lead through Pedro Hernandez who beat Valdez following another cross from the left delivered by the same Mathieu. Pablo was left alone inside the box with Abidal failing to contact the ball.

The French defender saved his side from a third one in the 30^th minute when a dangerous pass which was meant to reach Soldado was intercepted by Abidal at the death. Soldado was the second player to see a yellow card for a foul on Puyol. Mathieu, who had a great night on Mestalla, developed a great action on the left the finish of which saw him feed Soldado in good position only to strike it wide from close range.

The half time went scoreless but the lively game remained open to any result. Unai Emery made the first change one minute into the second part, introducing Alberto Costa for Albelda. Valencia got their firs big chance of the second part in the 52^nd minute when Canales and Sodlado treated a great action from the right very poorly allowing the Catalans to make the clearance in what should have been a third one for the hosts.

Pep Guardiola made a couple of changes in the 58^th minute when he introduced both David Villa and Adriano for Pedro and Sadou Keita respectively. Just four minutes later, he made his third one, replacing Puyol with Thiago. Barca’s first dangerous action of the term came late in the 67^th minute through Mascherano, whose 30 yard shot which keeper Guiata saved at the death.

Valencia then introduced Jonas for Canales as Emery was struggling to keep the lead on his side. Messi developed a great action in the 70^th minute the finish of which was wasted by newly introduced Villa who struck it wide to his own dismay. The last substitution for Valencia came in the 74^th minute as Pablo Piatti replaced Mathieu. Messi was denied by the keeper two minutes later following a dangerous occasion directed by the Catalans. Fabregas lost the ball and Messi struck the rebound straight at the keeper. Guiata made another big save one minute later when Messi’s drive was stopped by a vigilant keeper who kept the scoreboard unchanged.

But two minutes later, Barca evened the situation through Fabregas who beat the Valencia keeper following a smart pass from Messi which found the former Arsenal star one to one with the keeper, beating him into the near post for a well deserved and long awaited leveler.

Newly introduced Jonas saw his first yellow in the 86^th minute for a foul, while Mascherano was shown his first one two minutes later following an ugly challenge on Piatti. Meanwhile, Barca were chasing their third one as Villa’s shot was denied by the keeper with a tremendous instinct. Messi then penetrated the box only to hit it wide of the far post. The game finished with a red card shown to Valencia’s Jordi Alba for chatty.

Said Fabregas after the draw: “We controlled the second half from beginning to end, and I think we’re going home with a bit of a bad taste in the mouth because we deserved to win. The starts of the seasons are difficult but I think we put in a lot of effort, especially in the second half. I think in the end we deserved to win.”

FC Barcelona are fourth in the standings with eight points won in four games. Leaders Valencia have won ten points so far this season, sitting one point ahead of its main followers Malaga and Real Betis. Barca will next meet Atletico Madrid next Saturday, while Valencia travel to Sevilla FC the same day.

Valencia – Guiata; Mathieu, Victor Ruiz, Rami, Miguel; Banega, Albelda; Alba, Canales, Pablo; Soldado. Reserves: Aduriz, Diego Alves, Aduriz, Bruno Saltor, H. Maduro, P. Piatti, Tino, Jonas.

FC Barcelona – Victor Valdez; Mascherano, Puyol, Abidal; Xabi, Busquets, Keita, Fabregas; Dani Alves, Pedro, Messi. Reserves: Maxwell, J. Pinto, I. Afellay, A. Correia, D. Villa, Thiago, A. Fontas.

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