Barcelona vs. Valencia: Goals and Highlights from 2016 La Liga Game

Barcelona returned to La Liga action on Sunday in desperate need of a win at home to Valencia.

Luis Enrique's side crashed out of the UEFA Champions League against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, while wins for Real and Atletico Madrid earlier in the weekend had wiped out their once healthy lead at the top of La Liga.

Barca started on the front foot but were unable to find the early goal they so badly wanted. That frustration was then compounded after 26 minutes when Guilherme Siqueira's cross took a wicked deflection off Ivan Rakitic and flew into the back of the net: 

"

Valencia ungguli Barca lewat gol bunuh diri Rakitic, 0-1 untuk Valencia. pic.twitter.com/rw3Wd2FlQ2

— Zia Fauzi (@ZiaFzi_) April 17, 2016"

The home side upped the ante in search of an equaliser but found themselves down 2-0 just before half-time when Daniel Parejo's through ball found Santi Mina, who finished past Claudio Bravo:

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#FCBarcelona 0-2 #Valencia Live 45' goal #Mina LaLiga. Barcelona ve tiki taka iyi gitmiyor!!! pic.twitter.com/679Zv92diz

— Bahis Adam (@bahis_adam) April 17, 2016"

Barcelona came out for the second half desperate to find a way back into the game, and Lionel Messi halved the deficit on 63 minutes with his 500th career goal:

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 @LaLiga

⚽️ Gol 5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ de #Messi pic.twitter.com/8OjYxBki6j

— Santiago Ravidlas (@SantiRavidlas) April 17, 2016"

Valencia held on to inflict a third consecutive La Liga defeat on the struggling Catalans.

Final score: Barcelona 1-2 Valencia

[Twitter]