'%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)
The much-awaited La Liga clash of the week disappointed a bit as Barcelona beat Valencia 2-1 in a tight affair that lacked the flair we expected.
Both teams headed into the fixture with their own aspirations and a victory was pivotal for both.
Barcelona looked to set a new record of 39 games unbeaten in the league and to shake off the disappointment of their shocking Champions League exit mid-week.
Valencia were one point ahead of fourth-placed Real Madrid and a win would go a long way in their quest to finish third for the first time since 2012. They visited Barcelona on the back of five successive victories.
It was a tightly contested affair from the first minute but it was Barcelona who controlled the proceedings.
Their strong start was rewarded in the 15th minute as Luis Suarez found the back of the net after Philippe Coutinho played him through with an inch-perfect through ball.
Valencia showed fighting spirit and their biggest chance in the first-half when Ter-Stegen gave the ball away cheaply and Rodrigo's effort was parried into the crossbar by the goalkeeper himself. Barcelona had the advantage going into the break.
Valencia were determined to get back in the game in the second-half and even had a shot from Rodrigo cleared off the goal-line by Pique.
However, Barcelona doubled their lead in the 51st minute when Samuel Umtiti rose high to head it into the net from a corner.
But, in the 86th minute, Jose Gaya was brought down in the box by Ousmane Dembele and Daniel Parejo managed to score the resulting penalty past Ter Stegen, who almost saved the effort.
Here's how Twitter reacted:
GOALS:
TWITTER REACTIONS:
STAT ATTACK:
