Valencia 2-3 Barcelona: Messi's brace earns comeback win, Griezmann nets

Barcelona dramatically came from behind to win 3-2 against a stubborn Valencia at the Mestalla stadium on Sunday evening to keep their LaLiga title hopes alive.

Match Report

After a quiet, goalless first half, former Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista opened the scoring for the hosts five minutes after the interval, before Lionel Messi netted a double either side of an Antoine Griezmann strike to complete the Spanish giants' turnaround.

Despite Carlos Soler's stunning late 35-yard strike, Barcelona held on, with the result leaving Ronald Koeman's side level on points with second-placed Real Madrid, and just two points off current leaders Atletico Madrid with just four games remaining this season.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

3' Pedri's shot wide out

13' Ronald Araujo's shot denied

21' Gaya's shot wide out

26' Račić's shot stopped

31' CLOSE! Messi's Free-kick just over the bar

40' Pedri misses a golden chance

49' GOAL! Valencia 1-0 Barcelona (Gabriel)

56' GOAL! Valencia 1-1 Barcelona (Messi)

62' GOAL! Valencia 1-2 Barcelona (Griezmann)

68' GOAL! Valencia 1-3 Barcelona (Messi)

81' Diakhaby handball in the box overlooked by ref

82' GOAL! Valencia 2-3 Barcelona (Soler)

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Line-ups

Valencia XI: Wass, Gabriel, Cillessen, Gaya, Guedes, T.Lato, Soler, Maxi Gomez, U. Račić, Hugo Guillamón, Correia

Subs: Gameiro, Mangala, Cheryshev, Piccini, Domenech, Ferro, Diakhaby, Manu Vallejo, Álex Blanco, Y. Musah, Lee Kang-In, C. Oliva

Barcelona XI: Messi, Pique, Alba, Busquets, Griezmann, Ter Stegen, Lenglet, De Jong, Ronald Araujo, Dest, Pedri

Subs: Pjanic, Neto, Roberto, Umtiti, Dembele, Firpo, Trincão, Matheus Fernandes, Arnau Tenas, Riqui Puig, Óscar Mingueza, Ilaix Moriba