A gripping contest at Camp Nou saw Barcelona recover from an early two-goal deficit to claim a point against visitors Valencia.
2018/2019 La Liga
2-2
Match Reports
Lionel Messi scored twice as champions Barcelona fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Valencia in LaLiga on Saturday.
The Blaugrana captain was in inspired form after it looked as though Ernesto Valverde's call to shuffle his pack would see his side come away empty-handed as they deservedly trailed to efforts from Kevin Gameiro and Daniel Parejo.
The league leaders rallied and Messi scored either side of half-time to clinch a point in a match packed with incident.
Barca's talisman subsequently required treatment for an apparent thigh ailment, but he returned to see out the 90 minutes as his side fell short of completing the turnaround and claiming all three points.
Match Events
24' GOAL! Barcelona 0-1 Valencia (Gameiro)
Goal! Barcelona 0, Valencia 1. Kevin Gameiro (Valencia) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Rodrigo Moreno with a through ball following a fast break.
32' Penalty Goal! Barcelona 0-2 Valencia (Parejo)
GOOOAAALLL!!! BARCELONA 0-2 VALENCIA! Parejo, who has come close on a couple of occasions already today, converts past Ter Stegen from the penalty spot to double the visitors' tally.
39' Penalty Goal! Barcelona 1-2 Valencia (Messi)
GOOOAAALLL!!! BARCELONA 1-2 VALENCIA! Messi sends Neto the wrong way from the penalty spot and Barcelona are right back in the match. Valencia's players are unhappy that the penalty was awarded but, after a VAR check, the referee was happy for it to stand.
64' GOAL! Barcelona 2-2 Valencia (Messi)
GOOOAAALLL!!! BARCELONA 2-2 VALENCIA! Messi scores his second goal of the game to drag Barcelona back on level terms! Vidal flicks a loose ball into his team-mate's path and the Argentina forward catches out Neto by taking on the strike early, curling it into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Match Ratings
Line-ups
Barcelona XI: L. Messi, T. Vermaelen, L. Suárez, Piqué, I. Rakitić, Vidal, Philippe Coutinho, M. ter Stegen, S.Roberto, Semedo, Carles Aleñá
Subs: Prince, Jordi Alba, Jeison Murillo, Lenglet, Arthur, Malcom, Iñaki Peña
Valencia XI: Garay, Gameiro, D.Wass, Parejo, Coquelin, Neto, Rodrigo, Gabriel, D. Cheryshev, Cristiano Piccini, T.Lato
Subs: Roncaglia, Kondogbia, Jaume Doménech, Mina, C.Soler, Ferrán Torres, Lee Kang-In