Match ends, Valencia 2, Barcelona 0.
ValenciaValencia2BarcelonaBarcelona0
Quique Setien suffered his first defeat as Barcelona manager as Valencia claimed their first home win over the Spanish champions since 2007.
The hosts broke the deadlock when Jordi Alba deflected Maxi Gomez's powerful strike past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Gomez, who had a first-half penalty saved by Ter Stegen, completed the scoring in the second half.
There were unsavoury scenes before the game as rival fans clashed outside the Mestalla Stadium.
Setien had enjoyed a good start to his Barca reign, guiding the club to victories over Granada in La Liga and UD Ibiza in the Copa del Rey round of 32.
The visitors were quick to gain a stranglehold on possession but were almost non-existent as an attacking force in the first half, with Valencia enjoying the better of the early chances.
Los Che were gifted a golden opportunity to take the lead when Gerard Pique felled Gomez inside the penalty area, but the Uruguayan's spot-kick was superbly palmed to safety by Ter Stegen.
The former Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper had to be on his toes moments later to parry another Gomez effort on to the woodwork, before tipping Kevin Gameiro's follow-up past the post at full stretch.
Barcelona started the second half with greater purpose and Ansu Fati almost fashioned an opening after combining well with Lionel Messi, but the teenager could only poke his shot wide of Jaume Domenech's right-hand post.
Messi appeared eager to take matters into his own hands as the second half progressed, dragging a fierce low effort wide of the far post before heading off target from Antoine Griezmann's delivery.
Gomez ended the visitors' hopes of a late revival with 13 minutes remaining, curling into the far corner after Ferran Torres had broken clear down the right wing.
Former Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista thought he had made it 3-0 late on, but the Brazilian's volley was disallowed for an infringement inside the Barcelona box.
Second-placed Real Madrid can move three points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga if they win their game in hand at Real Valladolid on Sunday.
Line-ups
Valencia
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Doménech
- 18Wass
- 24Garay
- 5Gabriel
- 14Gayá
- 20Torres
- 17CoquelinBooked at 54mins
- 6Kondogbia
- 8SolerSubstituted forSobrinoat 90'minutes
- 9GameiroSubstituted forRodrigoat 59'minutes
- 22GómezSubstituted forCostaat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Costa
- 4Mangala
- 16Lee
- 19Rodrigo
- 23Sobrino
- 28Rivero
- 34Esquerdo
Barcelona
Formation 3-1-4-2
- 1ter Stegen
- 20Roberto
- 3PiquéBooked at 10mins
- 23UmtitiBooked at 43mins
- 5BusquetsBooked at 52mins
- 31FatiSubstituted forColladoat 85'minutes
- 21de JongSubstituted forRakiticat 85'minutes
- 8ArthurSubstituted forVidalat 56'minutes
- 18Alba
- 10Messi
- 17Griezmann
Substitutes
- 2Nélson Semedo
- 4Rakitic
- 15Lenglet
- 22Vidal
- 24Firpo
- 26Peña
- 30Collado
- Referee:
- Jesús Gil Manzano
- Attendance:
- 45,961
Match Stats
Home TeamValenciaAway TeamBarcelona
- Possession
- Home26%
- Away74%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away5
- Corners
- Home2
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Valencia 2, Barcelona 0.
Post update
Offside, Barcelona. Samuel Umtiti tries a through ball, but Antoine Griezmann is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Arturo Vidal.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Post update
Lionel Messi (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Geoffrey Kondogbia (Valencia).
Post update
Foul by Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona).
Post update
Rubén Sobrino (Valencia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Valencia. Rubén Sobrino replaces Carlos Soler.
Post update
Foul by Arturo Vidal (Barcelona).
Post update
Geoffrey Kondogbia (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ivan Rakitic.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Álex Collado replaces Ansu Fati.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Ivan Rakitic replaces Frenkie de Jong.
Post update
Corner, Valencia. Conceded by Samuel Umtiti.
Post update
Offside, Valencia. Jaume Costa tries a through ball, but Ferrán Torres is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Valencia. Jaume Costa replaces Maxi Gómez.
Post update
Foul by Sergio Busquets (Barcelona).
