Xavi’s side grind out another narrow win to maintain their lead at the top of the La Liga table.
Barcelona defeated Valencia 1-0 in their La Liga game on Sunday. An early goal in the first half was enough for the Catalans to secure the home win.
Another La Liga clean sheet for Barca!
The Catalans came into the game on the back of a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey.
In the absence of some of their key players, Xavi’s men took a similar approach to their match against Valencia. The Catalans pushed hard to clinch an early opener and once again managed to break the deadlock in the first half.
A precise cross from Sergio Busquets found Raphinha inside the box. The Brazilian reached the ball before the goalkeeper and made it 1-0 for Barcelona with a powerful header.
The Catalans made a few more attempts to extend their lead but remained cautious of Valencia’s counter-attacks throughout the first period.
Barca’s pressure after the break provided a golden opportunity for them to score the second goal. However, Ferran Torres missed the penalty, keeping Valencia in the game.
Things got worse for the hosts when Ronald Araujo received a straight red card for denying Hugo Duro a clear goalscoring chance in the 59th minute.
Valencia pushed hard to use their numerical advantage to score the equalizer at Camp Nou. However, similar to their match against Real Madrid, Barca held on to their lead with a fantastic defensive display.
Xavi’s men will continue their La Liga campaign with a match against Athletic Bilbao next Sunday.
Be sure not to miss out on the latest news about Valencia
Download our brand new App and follow your favorite players, clubs, and much more
