Valenica 1-1 Barcelona: Joao Felix goal cancelled out by Hugo Guillamon as Barca drop more points in La Liga title race
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 16/12/2023 at 22:47 GMT
Barcelona's stuttering form continued after the reigning La Liga champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Valencia. After a goalless first half, Joao Felix put the Catalan side in front ten minutes after the break, but his team were pegged back when Hugo Guillamon levelled things up 15 minutes later. The result leaves Barca third, six points off surprise leaders Girona as Valencia move up to tenth.
Xavi hits out at critics - 'A month ago you said I was Barcelona's Ferguson'
Barcelona were held to a frantic 1-1 draw by Valencia at the Mestalla to remain six points adrift of shock La Liga leaders Girona.
Xavi's side grabbed the lead on 55 minutes when Joao Felix finished a delightful team move from close range after being played in by Raphinha.
But some poor defending and wasteful finishing enabled Hugo Guillamon to thump a shot high into the net on his first start of the season for a 70th minute equaliser Valencia probably deserved.
After a 4-2 defeat to Girona at home last week and a 3-2 loss to Antwerp in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, questions will continue to be asked of Barca's ability to challenge for silverware this season.
The defending champions remain in third place in the table on 35 points from 17 games before Girona host Alaves on Monday.
Second-placed Real Madrid are two points off the summit and can go top before Girona play when they welcome Villarreal to the Bernabeu on Sunday evening.
Talking point: Barca in danger of dropping out of title race
Xavi had called on his side to treat this match like a final, but if this is how they respond to such an occasion, goodness knows what happens from here on in.
Something is just not clicking for this Barca side at the moment. They certainly have plenty of pace and talent, but they seem to bizarrely doze off at key moments in matches.
Allowing the ball to bounce twice in the box from a hopeful cross before standing watching Hugo Guillamon stroke the equaliser into the net is the sort of thing you were taught not to do at school.
With Girona six points clear heading for the halfway stage of the campaign, Barca urgently need a reset or some additions in January if they are serious about retaining the La Liga crown.
Man of the match: Joao Felix (Barcelona)
Nobody was outstanding for Barca, but In an often breathless encounter, Joao Felix finished off the one genuine moment of quality in a brilliant Barcelona team goal early in the second half.
Always looked a threat for the visitors, but they failed to capitalise on taking the lead with a lack of a clinical edge at both ends ultimately proving their undoing in squandering more points.
Player ratings
Valencia: Mamardashvili 7; Thierry 7, Diakhaby 7, Mosquera 7, Vázquez 7; Pepelu 6, Guillamon 8, Fran Pérez 7; Yaremchuk 6, Diego Lopez 6, Hugo Duro 6 Subs: Gasiorowski 7, Foulquier 6, Amallah 6, Marí 6, Canos 6
Barcelona: Inaki Pena 6; Cancelo 7, Araujo 7, Kounde 6, Balde 6; Pedri 6, De Jong 6, Gündogan 7; Raphinha 7, Lewandowski 7, Joao Felix 7 Subs: Yamal 6, Torres 6
Match highlights
3' VALENCIA ALMOST OFF TO A DREAM START Roman Yaremchuk thumps a low and hard shot at goal, but Iñaki Peña dives low to his left to make a brilliant stop. Barca feeling the heat straight from the off.
27' BRILLIANT STOP BY VALENCIA KEEPER Robert Lewandowski with a breathtaking volley at goal from the Gundogan chipped pass, but Giorgi Mamardashvili makes a strong stop to keep it out.
55' GOAL FOR BARCA! (JOAO FELIX) Brilliant ball over the top from De Jong to feed Raphinha on the run and the cross is passed across goal for Joao Felix to tap home. Brilliant Barca move. They lead 1-0. Classic Barca.
70' GOAL FOR VALENCIA! (GUILLAMON) The equaliser from Hugo Guillamón as he coasts to the edge of the Barca box before slamming a shot high into the net with Inaki Pena given no chance. His first start of the campaign. Awful defending by Barca in letting a cross bounce twice in their box. All over the place.
75' BARCA ALMOST RESTORE THE LEAD Ferran Torres clips a shot at goal for Barca, but Giorgi Mamardashvili is equal to the task in making a fine stop. Still 1-1. Should really have scored.
Key stat
1 - Barcelona are the team in Europe's top five leagues with the most big chances missed in both first halves (23) and full league games (41 so far) this season (Opta).
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article