Valencia 0 : 1 Barcelona - Messi extends Barca advantage at summit

Posted Wednesday, March 02, 2011 by PA

Lionel Messi's 28th league goal of the season gave Barcelona a valuable 1-0 victory over third-placed Valencia at Mestalla and saw the Catalans stretch their lead at the Primera Division summit to 10 points.

Messi saw three shots kept out in one incredible move early on and missed two other good opportunities before popping up to settle a difficult match with 14 minutes remaining.

Barca had arguably the better chances, but Valencia matched the league leaders for long periods and could perhaps feel aggrieved that Jordi Alba's first-half effort was ruled out for offside.

Barca forward David Villa was returning to Mestalla for the first time since his big-money summer move from Valencia.

But the Spain striker arrived later than his team-mates after giving evidence in a trial against his former agent in Asturias earlier in the day.

Guardiola's presence in Valencia had also been in doubt, but the Barca coach was given the all clear to travel by club doctors, despite an uncomfortable lower back problem.

The Spaniard, in his third year in charge at Barca, had won at all of the other current Primera Division grounds - but never at Mestalla.

Guardiola's pleasure at being able to pick playmaker Xavi, returning from injury, was tempered by the losses of Carlos Puyol and Victor Valdes as the boss fielded an unusual line-up.

Sergio Busquets was moved back to central defence to stand in for Puyol, while Jose Manuel Pinto began in goal and there were also starts for Javier Mascherano and Adriano.

The latter began in midfield, with Andres Iniesta promoted to a forward role in place of Pedro, who was rested.

Most important, though, was the inclusion of Messi, who had been struggling with a knock in the build-up to this match.

The Argentina forward was, as expected, heavily involved early on and missed a triple opportunity to give Barca the lead after nine minutes.

Valencia keeper Vicente Guaita somehow repelled his first two efforts with fine reaction saves, while a third was hacked clear by a team-mate.

Messi also clipped a lob onto the roof of the net when he had looked certain to score after half an hour, but Barca could have been behind by then following a controversial call from the officials.

That saw Valencia's Alba ruled offside as he went clean through, took the ball past Pinto and slid into the empty net from an angle.

Replays proved inconclusive, but Valencia felt hard done by.

The home side, who had won eight of their last 10 Primera Division games, were matching Barca and substitute Roberto Soldado missed a good chance to give them the lead early in the second half, when he dragged an angled shot wide of the target.

Pablo Hernandez then fired just past the post following a quick Valencia counter-attack.

The midfielder opted to shoot, but appeared to be caught in two minds and perhaps would have been better off squaring for the unmarked Soldado at the far post.

Messi then missed another great chance for Barca as he slid just wide, but the Argentina forward netted what proved to be the winner with 14 minutes remaining.

Iniesta fed Adriano on the left flank and the Brazilian sidestepped his marker before sending in an inviting low cross for Messi, who beat Guaita with a low finish just inside the keeper's right-hand post.

Barca stay top and are now 10 points ahead of Real Madrid, who host Malaga on Thursday. Valencia remain in third, just a point ahead of fourth-placed Villarreal.