Barcelona suffer shock home loss to Valencia

Ten-man Barcelona suffered their first home defeat of the season as they crashed 3-2 against Valencia on Saturday, leaving the door open for Madrid rivals Atletico and Real to move above them later in the weekend.

They remain top of La Liga on 54 points, but Atletico Madrid, who trail on goal difference, can go ahead of them with a draw against Real Sociedad, as can Real Madrid, a point behind, with victory over Athletic Bilbao.

It appeared service as normal as Alexis Sanchez put Barcelona ahead early on but strikes either side of half time by Daniel Parejo and Pablo Piatti put Valencia in the driving seat.

Lionel Messi tied the score with a penalty on 54 minutes but the hosts were caught again on the counter through Francisco Alcacer.

Barcelona continued to struggle at the back and Jordi Alba was dismissed for a second yellow card with 12 minutes left.

The Catalan side now have just one win from their last four La Liga matches.

"It's a long time since we lost here and it comes at a bad time. Valencia made the most of their chances and we couldn't do any more," midfielder Sergio Busquets told reporters.

"We started well and it continued for the first half hour with a lot of chances to score but then Valencia came into it more and we lost our way."

The victory is a boost for Valencia's European hopes after they had picked up two points from their last three matches.

"It was perfect for us to win at a place like this. It was a different Valencia performance with the desire to do well," said Parejo.

"We were ready to take on Barcelona and we knew how the game might go with them having a lot of chances and we (knew we) would have to fight for our own openings."

Before kickoff there was a minute's silence for former Spain coach Luis Aragones, who died earlier on Saturday aged 75.

Aragones had coached Barca in the 1987-88 season and led them to victory in the King's Cup.

DIRECT STYLE

There was little to indicate early on that eighth-placed Valencia were capable of an upset, with Xavi's shot blocked by Jeremy Mathieu before Alexis scored after seven minutes with a shot from a tight angle that spun over keeper Diego Alves.

The hosts dominated with the more direct style favoured by coach Gerardo Martino, although they were leaving gaps at the back which Valencia exploited towards the end of the first half.

After visiting defender Ricardo Costa headed wide from a corner, Parejo equalised from close range a minute before the break after Sofiane Feghouli had pulled the ball back.

Valencia went ahead three minutes after the restart when Piatti headed home a loose ball inside the penalty area as Barcelona's defensive woes continued, with Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano in particular struggling.

Messi pulled the home side level from the penalty spot in the 54th after a handball by Costa but Alcacer restored Valencia's lead just before the hour when he steered home another Feghouli assist.

Fullback Alba was sent off for a second yellow card when he attempted to prevent Piatti breaking away.

Messi was then inches away from drawing Barca level near fulltime, but his shot went just past the post, consigning his side to their second league defeat of the season.

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