Valencia 0-1 Barcelona

Sergio Busquets' late winner for Barcelona was his first goal for 14 months

Sergio Busquets scored with virtually the last kick of the game to get Barcelona back within two points of league leaders Real Madrid.

Barcelona looked set to lose ground in the title race but deep into injury time Lionel Messi set up Busquets to net his first goal for 14 months.

Valencia slip to fifth in La Liga after their first home defeat of the season.

Messi was struck on the head by something seemingly thrown from the crowd during the celebrations.

He was pictured rubbing his head afterwards, but appeared to be unhurt.

It was a win that for so long looked unlikely, with Barcelona coach Luis Enrique having selected both Busquets and Javier Mascherano in central midfield, and the visitors suffered from a rare lack of creativity.

But Busquets justified the decision in dramatic style, following up to volley home from close range after Diego Alves had saved Neymar's header from a Messi cross.

Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez had earlier missed Barcelona's best two opportunities and also had an effort incorrectly ruled out for off-side when turning in an attempted Dani Alves shot.

Valencia, who have not beaten Barcelona at home since 2007, had chances of their own to win it but for the second successive home game were unable to score.

In the final minute of the first half, Andre Gomes rounded Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo but shot into the side netting from a tight angle.

After the break the home side had further chances to damage Barcelona's title prospects but Gerard Pique cleared off the line from Rodrigo.

With 20 minutes to go Bravo saved from Sofiane Feghouli and then thwarted on-loan Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo.

And Valencia were denied even a point when Busquets became the unlikely match-winner, sparking celebrations which saw Messi booked after he was hit on the head by an object as Barcelona players celebrated the dramatic winner.

Luis Suarez is yet to score in La Liga for Barcelona since his summer signing from Liverpool

The Uruguay international shows his frustration at a save by Diego Alves

Nicolas Otamendi reacts to Neymar, who avoided punishment for pushing his head into the Valencia defender

Valencia's on-loan Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo tries to keep the peace

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique was booked following a first-half flare-up which also saw Valencia's Antonio Barragan receive a yellow card

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Valencia

Formation 4-3-3

1Alves Carreira

19Barragán5Mustafi23Otamendi31Gayá Peña

10Parejo18Fuego Martínez21André Gomes

8Feghouli7Negredo17Rodrigo

• 1Alves Carreira
• 19BarragánBooked at 20mins
• 5MustafiBooked at 27mins
• 23OtamendiBooked at 90mins
• 31Gayá Peña
• 10ParejoSubstituted forAugustoat 84'minutes
• 18Fuego Martínez
• 21André Gomes
• 8Feghouli
• 7NegredoSubstituted forAlcácerat 82'minutes
• 17RodrigoBooked at 70minsSubstituted forde Paulat 72'minutes

Substitutes

• 2Cancelo
• 4Augusto
• 6Orban
• 9Alcácer
• 11Piatti
• 13Rodríguez Oterino
• 20de Paul

Barcelona

Formation 4-3-3

13Bravo

22Alves da Silva3Piqué24Mathieu18Alba

5Busquets14Mascherano6Hernández

10Messi9Suárez11Neymar

• 13Bravo
• 22Alves da Silva
• 3PiquéBooked at 20mins
• 24MathieuBooked at 8minsSubstituted forRakiticat 69'minutes
• 18AlbaBooked at 29mins
• 5Busquets
• 14Mascherano
• 6HernándezSubstituted forRafinhaat 80'minutes
• 10MessiBooked at 90mins
• 9SuárezSubstituted forPedroat 80'minutes
• 11Neymar

Substitutes

• 1ter Stegen
• 4Rakitic
• 7Pedro
• 12Rafinha
• 15Bartra
• 21Correia
• 31El Haddadi

Referee:

David Fernández Borbalán

Attendance:

51,200

Match Stats

Home TeamValenciaAway TeamBarcelona

Possession

Home29%

Away71%

Shots

Home12

Away11

Shots on Target

Home4

Away3

Corners

Home5

Away8

Fouls

Home10

Away9

Live Text

1. Post update

   Match ends, Valencia CF 0, Barcelona 1.

2. 90'+6'

   Full Time

   Second Half ends, Valencia CF 0, Barcelona 1.

3. 90'+5'

   Booking

   Lionel Messi (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card.

4. 90'+4'

   Goal!

   Goal! Valencia CF 0, Barcelona 1. Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal following a corner.

5. 90'+4'

   Post update

   Attempt saved. Neymar (Barcelona) header from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lionel Messi.

6. 90'+3'

   Post update

   Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Filipe Augusto.

7. 90'+2'

   Post update

   Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Antonio Barragán.

8. 90'+2'

   Post update

   Attempt missed. Dani Alves (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner.

9. 90'+2'

   Post update

   Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Nicolás Otamendi.

10. 90'+2'

    Post update

    Attempt blocked. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

11. 90'

    Post update

    Foul by Rafinha (Barcelona).

12. 90'

    Post update

    Javi Fuego (Valencia CF) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

13. 87'

    Post update

    Dani Alves (Barcelona).

14. 87'

    Post update

    Paco Alcácer (Valencia CF) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

15. 86'

    Post update

    Lionel Messi (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the right wing.

16. 86'

    Post update

    Foul by José Gayá (Valencia CF).

17. 84'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Valencia CF. Filipe Augusto replaces Daniel Parejo because of an injury.

18. 82'

    Substitution

    Substitution, Valencia CF. Paco Alcácer replaces Álvaro Negredo.

19. 81'

    Post update

    Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Álvaro Negredo.

20. 80'

    Post update

    Attempt blocked. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

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