Valencia vs. Barcelona: Score, Grades and Reaction from La Liga Game

Sergio Busquets scored three minutes into injury time to hand Barcelona a 1-0 win at Valencia on Sunday. 

The Catalans look like a side in transition, and they found it tough going against an organised and committed Valencia.

However, they kept pushing to the end, and Busquets thumped home in the dying seconds to secure a dramatic win.

The win keeps Barca within two points of leaders Real Madrid. The gap is not big, but Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid are a juggernaut showing no signs of slowing down at present.

There is plenty of time left in the campaign for Barca to click into gear, but on this form—even though they claimed the win—they will be found wanting in the title race.

Alberto Saiz/Associated Press

Jeremy Mathieu’s opening contribution on his return to the Mestalla for the first time since his transfer to Barcelona was to pick up a booking for a crunching foul on Alvaro Negredo.

Claudio Bravo was the first keeper called into action, with the Barcelona man forced to plunge to his left to keep out a low drive from Rodrigo on 11 minutes.

Luis Suarez came into the game still seeking out his first league goal for Barcelona. He should have found it on 14 minutes.

Racing onto a loose ball in the box, the Uruguayan had the goal gaping, but he struck his shot from eight yards straight at Diego Alves. It was a decent save from the Valencia keeper, but he really should not have been given the chance to make it.

"

Suarez has to score! But hits it too close to Diego Alves. Ball fell to him after Neymar miscontrolled super Pique ball over the top.

— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) November 30, 2014"

The temperature gauge was cranked up on 20 minutes, as Neymar went down under challenge from Nicolas Otamendi. The Valencia defender appeared to feel Neymar took a dive and got in the face of the Brazilian.

Neymar lightly brushed Otamendi, which was enough to send the Argentinian tumbling to the floor as if he had been caught with a sledgehammer.

"

A fantastic picture of the moment Valencia defender Nicolás Otamendi produced his impression of a WWE wrestler. pic.twitter.com/yKpjuxlBdA

— AS English (@English_AS) November 30, 2014"

Pushing and shoving followed, which resulted in cautions for Antonio Barragan and Gerard Pique, but order was swiftly restored.

"

According to letter of the law Neymar lucky to stay on, but dive from Otamendi was spectacular

— Kieran Canning (@KieranCanning) November 30, 2014"

Luis Enrique opted for Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano in his midfield engine room, and it quickly became apparent why he had done that, as the game developed into a real battle for possession.

But for the positive of adding midfield strength, the negative for Barcelona was the lack of creativity. It showed in a series of misplaced passes and poor decision-making.

Suarez crafted a chance for himself out of nothing shortly before the hour when he chased a lost cause and somehow won the ball ahead of Alves. The forward turned in a flash, but he got his angles wrong with the shot and dragged it into the side netting.

Alberto Saiz/Associated Press

The look of anguish on Suarez’s face as he laid on the ground contemplating his miss was a clear indication of how good a chance it was.

Barcelona’s attacking play lacked zip for long spells, and Enrique attempted to spark them to life by throwing on Ivan Rakitic in place of Mathieu.

Within two minutes, they had the ball in the net, with Suarez turning home a Dani Alves cross-shot from close range. An offside flag halted the celebrations, but replays suggested the goal should have stood.

"

Video: Goal Suarez wrongly disallowed for offside https://t.co/pkizSiv8Oz [via @bleedbarca]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) November 30, 2014"

Valencia had a major chance to take the lead on 71 minutes. Without Mathieu, Barca were sliced open. Negredo played in Sofiane Feghouli, but Bravo pulled off a superb save.

Bravo kept Barca on level terms 12 minutes from time with a brilliant stop low to his right to keep out a thumping drive from Negredo.

It was a chance Negredo was made to rue as Barca scored with virtually the last kick of the game to seal a win.

Messi lofted a cross into the six-yard box that caused panic in the area. Neymar had a shot superbly saved by Alves, but Busquets was on hand to rifle the ball home.

Barca celebrated like they had won the league, but they were marred by a bottle that was thrown onto the pitch and struck Messi on the head.

Notable Player Grades

Gerard Pique: B+

Alberto Saiz/Associated Press

Solid display from the defender, who had to be alert to quell the threat of Negredo.

Lionel Messi: D

Too often on the periphery and dropped deeper and deeper as the game wore on in search of possession. Was also unusually wasteful in possession.

Luis Suarez: C+

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Continues to work hard, but the ball is just not dropping for him at present. On another night, he could have had a hat-trick, but he instead went home with nothing.

Alvaro Negredo: B

Ran himself into the ground for the cause and only a brilliant save from Bravo denied him a goal.

Post-Match Reaction

"

Busquets: "Draw wasn't enoug tonight. We kept on trying and in the end we got the goal that gives us the win. I shot with everything I have"

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) November 30, 2014"

"

Luis Enrique: "Goal Suarez wrongly disallowed? Could have decided the game a lot earlier, but those things happen in football..." #fcblive

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) November 30, 2014"

"

Luis Enrique: "The team had faith until the last moment. Nobody had won in this stadium. The team kept going until the end.”

— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) November 30, 2014"