Zaza, at the death, gets it in the box with a wonderful cross from Guedes out right - and mangles his shot over both ter Stegen and the crossbar! it's all over - the referee blows for full-time!
90' +3
Shot by Andreas! He busts through the line on the right flank for Valencia and pushes it into the side of the net. So close for Valencia.
90' +2
Offside against Denis Suarez! The substitute runs onto a long ball on the left flank and is caught by the linesman's flag. Two minutes left....
90'
Messi swings it in and Gabriel smothers it out for a corner - which Luis Suarez then heads over the crossbar. Valencia survive - and with four minutes of added time to go, can they hang on against this Barcelona assault?
89'
Santi Mina enters the game and replaces Carlos Soler.
Andreas Pereira gets yellow.
That was a stupid challenge by Valencia there, a late tackle by Andreas Pereira in his own half - and Barcelona have a free-kick 30 yards out on the right. The substitute is booked for his troubles.
And the final change now for the hosts - Soler is replaced by Santi Mina.
88'
Screams around Mestalla for a free-kick on the left wing for Valencia as Guedes is clattered to the ground by Vidal - none is forthcoming.
86'
Rúben Vezo enters the game and replaces E. Garay.
Another change for Valencia as Ruben Vezo comes on for Garay at the back; the hosts don't want to let their previous lead turn on a dime to a loss.
84'
Barcelona were piling on the pressure and it told in quite spectacular fashion, it must be said. Montoya was caught way out of poition there and Alba was able to race in with little trouble. Valencia will be very cross with themselves to have conceded in that fashion.
82'
Jordi Alba has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by L. Messi.
Andreas Pereira enters the game and replaces Rodrigo.
Assist Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini
Oh my word, what an equaliser that is! Perfectly waiting his cross, Messi slings the ball from 30 yards out on the right into the left side of the Valencia box, where Alba catches it on the half-volley and smashes it into the top right corner. Barcelona are back at level pegging and Mestalla is stunned.
81'
A change for the hosts now - goalscorer Rodrigo is off and Andreas Pereira is on in his place.
Minute
Description
80'
Aleix Vidal enters the game and replaces Nélson Semedo.
Semedo is off in the third and final change for the vistors, replaced by Aleix Vidal.
79'
Barcelona continue to throw all they've got at the Valencia defence, returning on a counter through Paulinho, who plays it wide to Denis Suarez, only for him to scuff it wide to the left of goa.
77'
It's a foul on Garay now, by a mean-looking Vermaelen challenge and the former is helped to the sideline as Valencia look to get back underway.
76'
Despite trailing, Barcelona are starting to exert more pressure here - and a cross into the box by Denis Suarez almost finds Luis Suarez looking every bit dangerous. He can't guide his touch to ground the way he wants though and Gabriel puts the ball back into midfield.
74'
Rodrigo gets yellow.
Rodrigo is now booked for a foul that slows down Messi as Barcelona try to break through the Valencia back four again and the visitors get a free-kick that they are unable to turn past the wall, deflecting the ball back into midfield off Gaya.
72'
Denis Suárez enters the game and replaces Andrés Iniesta.
A second change for Barcelona as they look to add some more grunt up front; Denis Suarez takes the place of Iniesta.
71'
A free-kick now for Valencia, deep in their own half, as Parejo is bodychecked by Deulofeu after passing the ball downfield.
70'
Close by Guedes! He cuts back inside after a long ball from Parejo, and nips into the box, only for Umtiti to deflect the ball out for a throw-in.
68'
Deulofeu enters the game and replaces I. Rakitić.
It's the first change of the night now as Deulofeu comes on for Rakitic on the wing for Barcelona.
65'
It's another offside call against Suarez again as once more, Messi breaks in midfield and tries to tee up his partner on the right channel. The pair are furious with the decision.
63'
Double cries for a penalty as Guedes and then Rodrigo go down in the Barcelona box, challenging for the ball, with both waved away by the referee. Valencia are looking dangerous here - and so too are Barcelona.
61'
Barcelona are stunned - and quick to respond too, with Suarez darting down the right wing in search of a Messi pass, only to be called for offside.
60'
Rodrigo has scored a goal for Valencia! Assist by José Gayà.
Assist José Luis Gayá Peña
RODRIGO! GOAL TO VALENCIA! Mestalla absolutely erupts as the hosts play wide and left instead of into the box for Gaya, who manages to slip round Semedo and bring it in with a flat pass across the face of goal. The striker tucks himself in behind ter Stegen and taps it home - and then runs into the crowd to celebrate. What a score to break the deadlock.
59'
Foul on Zaza by Umtiti and the Valencia man is not happy. It's forty yards out - will they chance a shot here?
57'
What a chance for Valencia! Guedes brings the ball downfield on a counter-attack after Messi put his shot into the legs of Gabriel and it deflects to the winger. He takes it into the box and manages to sidestep Semedo - and ter Stegen fumbles his shot! The Barcelona keeper manages to regather at the second attempt, but what the hosts will be kicking themselves there.
56'
Barcelona hare off down the right wing through Rakitic, only for the winger to get into a twisty tussle with Gaya and concede the free-kick.
55'
From the left, Iniesta turns it tightly in once more for the visitors; Neto lands a flying punch on the ball though and it tumbles back into midfield where Semedo collects.
54'
Free-kick now to Barcelona as Parejo clips Busquets in a slide and from that, Messi races downfield to bury another shot at Neto. The keeper deflects and it goes out for a corner.
52'
Now Barcelona whip it downfield, and Messi earns a corner after a tussle with Garay, back on with a fresh sock. Iniesta turns it in and Vermaelen races onto it with a strong header; it just rises above the crossbar and out for a goal kick.
50'
Zaza! The Valencia forward gets a wonderful cut-back pass to the left edge of the Barcelona box, turns on a dime and strikes it between the legs of Vermaelen, the ball just skimming the wrong side of the right goalpost. The hosts have come out flying at Mestalla.
48'
As that goes on at the side, Valencia earn a corner, only for their effort to find Umtiti who thumps the ball away and out of danger.
47'
Anger from the Valencia players now as the referee calls a halt to proceedings owing to - of all things - a gaping hole in Garay's sock. He has to jog over to the touchline to get a replacement.
46'
We're back underway at Mestalla - and after the high-stakes drama of the first half, can the second keep up the breakneck pace?
45'
The Argentinian lines it up - and though his shot has the length, he skews it wide to the right. Neto returns the goal kick and the referee blows for half-time.
44'
Gabriel Paulista gets yellow.
It's a great period crammed with end-to-end stuff right now, before a Barcelona free-kick breaks up momentum. 40 yards out, Messi will go for goal as Gabriel is booked for the foul.
42'
Close for Suarez, who wrongfoots Gabriel and sees his effort splash off the leg of Neto on the right edge of the Valencia box - and the hosts then counter with a superb length-of-the-field motion that finds Zaza, only for his effort to take a bounce off Semedo.
41'
It's a desperate half-volley in defence from garay to stop a Paulinho cross heading for Messi and Valencia parlay it into a break of their own through Guedes on the left wing.
39'
A look of disgust from Messi again as Neto makes a great stop on a Busquets shot from twenty yards out bang in front of goal. He is - rightfully - still steaming about earlier. Valencia are starting to wobble at the back under this tidal wave of pressure.
37'
Suarez races onto a through-ball on the right edge of the Valencia box and is pinged for offside. Barcelona are throwing everything they have at the hosts, spurred on by that phantom goal.
35'
That was a truly sensational refereeing error, to not award Messi that goal - and if Barcelona fail to win today, one that will be pored over for weeks to come. How crucial could that call be in the story of the season?
33'
What a stop by Neto! It's a great curling effort from Messi, looking to guide it into the bottom left corner, and Valencia's keeper wraps his body around the ball with a great dive. Still 0-0 after a few minutes of absolute high-end drama at Mestalla.
32'
G. Kondogbia gets yellow.
And now a free-kick, 25 yards out to Barcelona! On the right edge, Messi is fouled by Kondogbia and the referee pulls a yellow card from his pocket for the latter. The Argentinian will take and go for goal, surely...
31'
Valencia played to the whistle and whipped the ball downfield in counter, only for Rodrigo's effort to spray wide from the left corner of the box out on the right side. Barcelona's players are beside themselves with anger at the referee, crowding around him.
30'
Oh my word! Barcelona think they've scored as Messi drives a Rakitic cross towards Neto and the keeper bobbles it back into his net, with the ball landing behind the line - but he punches it back out hurriedly and the referee waves play on! The visitors have wheeled away in celebration and suddenly realise the goal has not been given. Messi is furious - remarkable scenes! What drama!
29'
It's a short effort that ricochets into Soler and out for another corner - and this time Barcelona play it back out an attempt to cut back into the box through centre-field. It doesn't quite pay off, and Parejo spirits it away
27'
Still no goals as we come up to the half-hour mark; both teams are on fire though as Suarez sees his long effort whipped towards Messi on the left nudged out by Garay for a corner. Iniesta to take.
25'
It's a corner now to the hosts after Gaya puts it out under pressure in the back-right corner. Barcelona swing it in - and find only Gabriel, who whomps it away and back downfield out of danger.
23'
Barcelona get a free-kick some forty yards out after a Parejo foul and Messi opts to play short and wide. His decision backfires; Kondogbia and Montoya see the ball away and back into midfield.
21'
Offside against Alba as the Barcelona left-back races onto a long ball in the Valencia box pumped downfield by Busquets - albeit belatedly after the linesman makes a late decision.
19'
Free-kick to Valencia now in Barcelona territory on the right as Soler is caught by Iniesta. The hosts play it wide across the park to Guedes who brings it back across into the box on the left, only to be pressured into putting the ball out for a goal kick by a canny ter Stegen.
17'
It's been a fast-paced opening period at Mestalla that, even if short on clear-cut chances, is still sizzling with the promise of something special. The noise is bordering on biblical from around the ground.
15'
Iniesta hits the turf after being caught by the foot of Montoya and still manages to regather himself to catch the loose ball and cross it from the left into the Valencia box, only to find Gabriel waiting to clear.
13'
A wayward pass by Messi out wide to the left can't be brought back in by Alba before running dead and Barcelona concede a throw deep in Valencia territory; followed by a free-kick as Vermaelen catches Soler with a hefty challenge.
11'
Suarez hounds after a long, looping pass down the left wing, sent forth by Paulinho, but the linesman's flag catches him out. Free-kick to Valencia.
10'
Rakitic picks up a loose pass in the Valencia defensive line and picks out a shot from the right edge of the box; it goes straight to Neto who deals with it easily enough.
8'
Fast paced, back-to-back corners for Valencia now, on the back of ter Stegen taking the ball out with a pass back from Vermaelen, yet the hosts are unable to prise a way through the defence of Barcelona and eventually Kondogbia scuffles it out for a goal kick.
7'
Rodrigo! The striker cuts back inside two Barcelona defenders as he meets a well-timed run and goes for goal from the left corner; Umtiti's wayward leg deflects it off wide for a throw-in.
6'
A sniff of a chance for the hosts now as Guedes runs onto a long cross on the left flank, only to be pinged by the linesman's flag.
5'
It's back to back corners for the league leaders; however, they are unable to find their way round some nippy defence from Gaya and Garay, and Valencia shuffle the ball back to midfield.
4'
Paulinho! The midfielder goes close with a fine effort from 25 yards out on the left after a Messi cut-back pass and Neto just manages to tip it over the crossbar. Corner to Barcelona.
2'
It's the visitors who are probing early and a Iniesta cross from the left wing to the right edge of the Valencia box causes a spot of bother for the defence; Messi miscues his run though and Gabriel gets it away.
1'
Messi taps back to Suarez and we're underway! Who will come up with the spoils in this table-topping clash? We'll find out over the next ninety minutes or so.
History points to a tough ask though; at home, Valencia are winless their last 10 league games versus Catalans. Their last victory in the competition was in February 2007 under Quique Sánchez Flores, with a 2-1 win.
It's perhaps unsurprising given their league positions, but Valencia and Barcelona are the teams with a league-high shot conversión rate, with 28.57 and 24.09 respectively.
It is Valencia's best ever start to a LaLiga campaign and in any other season, they would be likely leading the charge for the crown - but against Barcelona, they find themselves in a tussle for the title instead. Atletico Madrid's win last night means they are breathing down their neck - a win tonight, their third in 21 against the Catalan outfit, would be a huge boost for the hosts.
Hello, and welcome to live coverage of week 13 of the 2017-18 LaLiga season as second-placed Valencia take on league leaders Barcelona in what is arguably the game of the year so far. The hosts are on their best ever hot streak in the top flight with 30 points in 12 games; can they close the gap at the top with a win against a side who are also unbeaten? Kick-off is on the way.
It may be goalless but don't let that fool you; this has been a superb game between first and second in LaLiga so far. The main talking point of course is that phantom goal for Lionel Messi, bobbled over and landing behind the line by keeper Neto who punched it out in a desperate last move - and fooled the referee with it to boot. Barcelona should be a goal ahead in a pulsating game they are arguably edging by a sliver; instead, it's all square at the break. At half-time, it's Valencia 0-0 Barcelona.
Wow. What a game. Mestalla is in full voice as Zaza remains, head in hands, in the Barcelona penalty area and Messi sets off to remonstrate with the linesman. In the end, the spoils are shared in one of the most pulsating, thrilling games LaLiga has seen this year - and it's just the right result. A great flat pass tap-in for Rodrigo gave the hosts the lead before a Alba volley ten minutes from time squared up an intense finale, with both missing chances in the final minutes to snatch the three points. And that's before Lionel Messi's disallowed goal from the first half is even mentioned - how different this game could have been if his "phantom" effort had been awarded. Valencia will rue their mistakes but become only the second side to take points off the league leaders; at full-time, it finishes Valencia 1-1 Barcelona.
I'm running out of words to describe that match. If both can carry this sort of form into the new year - and there's no reason to suppose they cannot - then LaLiga is in for a treat. Valencia consolidate second and remain four points behind Barcelona in the race for the top. The former face Zaragoza in midweek now for the Copa del Rey - whilst the latter tangle with Murcia. Until then however, thank you for joining us - and have a good week!
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