Barcelona twice fought back from a goal down to earn
a point from their trip to league leaders Valencia in
an enthralling 2-2 Primera Division showdown at the
Mestalla.
Valencia went ahead through an own goal from Eric Abidal
early on and, after Barca had immediately drawn level
through Pedro Rodriguez, Unai Emery's men regained the
lead through Pablo Hernandez in the 23rd minute.
Barca got themselves back on terms 13 minutes from
time through Cesc Fabregas though to ensure the reigning
champions remain unbeaten and in the process ended Valencia's
perfect start to the campaign.
Valencia, who lost defender Jordi Alba to a late red
card, began the day as one of only two sides still boasting
a 100 per cent record, the other being Real Betis, and
they looked in no mood to surrender that record as they
started in style.
It took the hosts just 12 minutes to get ahead when
Jeremy Mathieu - who was to prove a constant menace
down the left for Valencia - fired in a low cross that
Abidal deflected into his own net as team-mate Victor
Valdes came out to claim.
The lead lasted barely two minutes though before Barca
were back on level terms.
Good work from Lionel Messi, who scored a hat-trick
in Saturday's 8-0 mauling of Osasuna, saw Pedro put
through on the left of the area and his low shot from
a tight angle beat Vicente Guaita at his near post.
Messi then felt he should have won a penalty in the
17th minute after being up-ended by Adil Rami on the
edge of the box, but play was waved on much to the Argentinian's
astonishment.
To add to Barca's frustration they found themselves
trailing again seven minutes later.
Mathieu was again involved as his cross from the left
found Pablo at the far post after Abidal was unable
to intervene in the middle, and the unmarked Valencia
winger beat Valdes with a confident low finish.
Valencia really should have gone 3-1 ahead just before
half-time, but in-form striker Roberto Soldado was unable
to convert with an open goal at his mercy.
The 26-year-old looked certain to score his sixth goal
of the season as Mathieu again crossed from the left,
but Valdes got the slightest of touches to the ball,
and that was enough to force Soldado into scuffing his
shot wide in front of a gaping net.
Barca had another let-off at the start of the second
half when Soldado again failed to get a good connection
on his shot in front of goal.
Pep Guardiola's side did not need any more wake-up
calls and, after Javier Mascherano had seen a swerving
30-yard shot crash against the crossbar in the 67th
minute and Messi had been denied by Guaita when clean
through, the visitors drew level in the 77th minute.
Messi's fine through-ball picked out Fabregas and he
showed great coolness considering the situation to take
the ball down and calmly slot a left-footed shot past
Guaita.
That was Fabregas' fourth goal in four league games
for Barca following his summer switch from Arsenal and
was enough to earn the European champions a point, although
the visitors might well have been celebrating all three
if it was not for Guaita.
He produced a brilliant 88th-minute block to deny David
Villa after the Spain international had been put in
by another fantastic Messi pass.
Soon after that Valencia lost Alba to a straight red
card, but there was not enough time for Barca to take
advantage.
|
