'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
SCORE: Barcelona 2-1 Valencia
SCORERS: Barcelona - Suarez 15' Umtiti 51'; Valencia - Parejo (P) 87'
The hosts managed to recover quickly from the heart-wrenching exit from the Champions League thanks to a miracle comeback from Roma.
With just the League and the Spanish Cup to contend with, Barcelona took another step towards winning La Liga.
Suarez and Umtiti came up with the goals for the Catalans with Daniel Parejo pulling one back for the visitors, from the spot, late on in the game.
Messi found his divine touch once again, with some mesmerising football on the night, but failed to find the back of the net.
Here are the major talking points from the game.
#5 The Catalans bounce back from the lingering heartbreak of the Champions League exit
Barcelona were made to go through footballing hell, like they have forced so many of their opposition teams to similarly experience, in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
They let slip a 1-4 first leg deficit to allow Roma to score three in the second and go through to the semis instead.
The whole world was left aghast as the Italians managed their first semi-final in European competition in well over 30 years.
Tonight was all about the recovery powers of the Catalans, and like they proved against Valencia, they are among the best I the world at that.
So many teams would've fumbled after the overwhelming disappointment of not just the loss but also the manner of it in mid-week. The fact that a stoppage-time Ronaldo penalty helped Real through would've made matters worse.
#4 Valencia hand the hosts the onus and the lead but respond well after going behind
Leo Messi and co. were up for it right from the first whistle and managed to make the pressure tell as Suarez opened the scoring on the night. They managed to control the rest of the game and kept it at 1-0 in the first half.
They quickly doubled their lead through Umtiti in the 51st minute from a powerful header. That's how it stayed till the dying moments of the ninety when a rash challenge in the box resulted in a spot-kick for Valencia - Parejo putting it away.
The visitors were too respectful of the opposition and let the home side take the initiative and dictate the game right until they took the lead.
They then responded well to going behind by putting in a determined, collective effort to keep Barcelona at bay for the rest of the half despite them looking menacing on many occasions.
The visitors then went on to make the champions' elect sweat after reducing the lead from the spot, and then, building with confidence in search of an equaliser, which never arrived.
#3 Phillipe brought some of that Samba magic as Barca have the job of a decade in replacing their current captain
The Brazilian was at his creative best on the night, with a hand in both goals for his side. First setting up his former Liverpool teammate, Suarez for the opener before he assisted another in the second. Umtiti the beneficiary.
The creative maestro has been a great addition to the side so far and has shown why the Catalans paid the big bucks to acquire his services.
With Andres Iniesta, seemingly, winding down his career at the Camp Nou, it would give the home fans a certain sense of comfort to know that they have a potential world-beater in Phillipe Coutinho.
We're not saying anyone can really ever fill the shoes of the magician who glides through football games, but if anyone in world football has a shot at the moment, it has to be the Brazilian.
#2 Valencia show they're well worthy of the position they currently hold in the league
There was plenty to be proud of for Marcelinho who has galvanised his side in a wonderful season for the side from Valencia as they're currently engaged in the battle for second place in the league.
The Spanish side has managed to hit the heights this season and have been a constant fixture in the top four positions right through the season.
They proved that they were well worthy of the honour as they gave tough competition to the leaders.
The character and the grit instilled in his side by the manager was evident in their work on the field as they never really let their heads drop despite going two down at the Camp Nou.
#1 Can Barcelona gloss over the rough-patch with an unbeaten run in the league?
With the dream of a treble ending in the most horrific manner possible, as far as Barcelona are concerned, Barcelona will be hoping they can now go on and finish the season without a single result in the lost column.
After the tragic loss in the Champions League to the relatively weaker opposition, and as a result Messi almost destined to see his arch nemesis win his sixth Ballon d'Or if Real do go all the way in Europe, Barcelona have a shot to rectify their mistake by etching their names in the history books.
They currently hold the record for the longest unbeaten run in Spain with 39 games undefeated but the crowning glory will be if they manage to get through the entire season underway without losing a single game.
If they do manage to achieve the feat, they will be receiving a golden trophy instead of the regular silverware at the end of the season, like Arsenal did back in 2004.
