Barcelona earn late draw against Valencia as 'ghost goal' not given

Jordi Alba scored a stunning equaliser against Valencia to salvage a 1-1 draw for Barcelona in a match best remembered for a Lionel Messi ‘ghost goal.’

The Argentine looked to have given the visitors to the Mestalla a first half lead, with goalkeeper Neto allowing a shot to squirm through his legs over the line. But the officials failed to spot it, despite the protestations of the Barcelona players.

Valencia emerged reinvigorated for the second half and took the lead after an hour, with Rodrigo finishing from close range after good work from Jose Luis Gaya at the byline. It was a goal that could have drawn Marcelino’s side to within a point of Barca at the top of La Liga.

But Alba denied Valencia all three points, getting on the end of a wonderful Messi pass to send a volley on the stretch into the far side of the net. The goal ensured that Barcelona stayed four points clear at the top of the Liga table.

While the rest of the world is now debating the benefits of VAR, La Liga is still talking about implementing goalline technology. The same technology that every other major league in Europe has and has had for years.

Spanish football has been left behind in the technology stakes, and that was exposed by the ‘ghost goal’ scored by Messi. Everyone in the stadium saw it, but not the officials. So why are they still being denied help?

His goal looked like being a turning point, not just in the match, but in the 2017/18 La Liga season. Rodrigo came to life in the second half of this match, scoring the opener and causing Barcelona problems.

Ultimately, he was denied the accolade of being the match winner, but his contribution still underlined how Valencia have the attacking quality to compete at the top of the table.

Valencia - Neto 7, Montoya 6, Gabriel 6, Garay 6, Gaya 7, Soler 5, Parejo 6, Kondogbia 8, Guedes 7, Rodrigo 8, Zaza 6. Subs - Vezo 5, Mina 5, Pereira 5.

Barcelona - Ter Stegen 7, Alba 7, Vermaelen 6, Umtiti 7, Semedo 5, Busquets 6, Iniesta 5, Rakitic 5, Paulinho 6, Messi 7, Suarez 5. Subs - Denis 5, Vidal 5, Deulofeu 6.

30’ GOOOOOOOOOOOOAA... NO! Messi's shot is fumbled by Neto and crosses the line! Everyone saw it, besides the referee and the linesman. Play continues! Barcelona are livid!

60’ GOAL! Valencia 1-0 Barcelona: A massive goal in this season's Liga title race! Guedes released Gaya down the left wing, who got to the byline before squaring to Rodrigo to finish from close range. Massive goal!

64’ PENALTY SHOUT! Could that have been a spot kick to Valencia? Umtiti swung a leg and brought down Guedes inside the area, but the referee (who isn't having a good night) shakes his head.

83’ GOAL! Valencia 1-1 Barcelona: Barcelona have equalised! Messi picks out a wonderful pass to Alba at the back post, who does brilliantly to meet it on the volley and send the ball into the far corner of the net. Wow!

Lionel Messi has had a hand in 27 of Barcelona’s last 34 goals against Valencia in La Liga.

Jordi Alba has been directly involved in more goals than any other defender in La Liga this season (five).