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Barcelona went 10 points clear at the top of La Liga for a few hours at least after beating struggling Valencia.
Raphinha put Xavi’s side into the lead with a header from Sergio Busquets’ dinked ball over the top.
They looked set to take control of the game when they won a penalty in the second half but Ferran Torres hit the post against his old team.
Ansu Fati struck the woodwork a minute later and Barcelona ended with 10 men after Ronald Araujo was sent off.
The Barca defender was shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Hugo Duro, who was running on to Jules Kounde’s poor header.
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen kept his 18th clean sheet in 24 La Liga games this season and only had to make one save, keeping out Justin Kluivert’s 20-yard strike with seconds left.
Real Madrid can reduce the gap to seven points again when they visit fifth-placed Real Betis at 20:00 GMT.
Barcelona were without their three top scorers Robert Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembele and Pedri through injury, while boss Xavi was watching from the stands as he served a touchline ban.
Valencia remain in the relegation zone after the defeat.
Line-ups
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1ter Stegen
- 23Koundé
- 4AraújoBooked at 59mins
- 15Christensen
- 28Balde
- 20RobertoSubstituted forGarcíaat 81′minutes
- 5Busquets
- 21F de JongSubstituted forKessieat 45′minutes
- 22RaphinhaSubstituted forAlarcónat 87′minutes
- 11F Torres
- 10Ansu FatiSubstituted forAlonsoat 61′minutes
Substitutes
- 13Peña Sotorres
- 17Alonso
- 18Alba
- 19Kessie
- 24García
- 32Torre
- 36Tenas
- 38Alarcón
- 39Pedrola Fortuny
Valencia
Formation 4-5-1
- 25Mamardashvili
- 20Foulquier
- 24CömertSubstituted forDiakhabyat 55′minutes
- 15Özkacar
- 21Vázquez
- 2Rendall CorreiaSubstituted forCastillejo Azuagaat 62′minutes
- 8Kourouma KouroumaSubstituted forPérez Martínezat 62′minutes
- 6Guillamón
- 18Ribeiro AlmeidaSubstituted forMusahat 78′minutes
- 16Dias LinoSubstituted forKluivertat 78′minutes
- 19Duro
Substitutes
- 1Herrerín
- 4Musah
- 9Kluivert
- 11Castillejo Azuaga
- 12Diakhaby
- 13Rivero
- 29Pérez Martínez
- 33Mosquera
- 34Iranzo
- 36Guerra
- 43Domínguez
- Referee:
- Javier Alberola Rojas
- Attendance:
- 89,644
Live Text
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Match ends, Barcelona 1, Valencia 0.
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Second Half ends, Barcelona 1, Valencia 0.
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Attempt saved. Justin Kluivert (Valencia) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Attempt missed. Jesús Vázquez (Valencia) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
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Attempt missed. Hugo Duro (Valencia) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high following a corner.
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Corner, Valencia. Conceded by Marcos Alonso.
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Ferran Torres (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Fran Pérez (Valencia).
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Foul by Ferran Torres (Barcelona).
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Fran Pérez (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Barcelona. Ángel Alarcón replaces Raphinha.
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Offside, Valencia. Fran Pérez tries a through ball, but Mouctar Diakhaby is caught offside.
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Attempt blocked. Yunus Musah (Valencia) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Corner, Valencia. Conceded by Franck Kessie.
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Franck Kessie (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Yunus Musah (Valencia).
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Substitution, Barcelona. Eric García replaces Sergi Roberto.
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Substitution, Valencia. Yunus Musah replaces André Almeida.
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Substitution, Valencia. Justin Kluivert replaces Samuel Lino.
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Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by André Almeida.
