Valencia snatched a shock 3-2 win at 10-man Barcelona, landing a huge title blow to Tata Martino’s side.
Barcelona seemed to be cruising after Alexis Sanchez’s sublime seventh-minute chip, dominating possession until Dani Parejo exploited a terrible defending to equalise just before half-time.
Pablo Piatti added a second early in the second half as Valencia again hit Barca on the counter, but the hosts were given a lifeline when Ricardo Costa was incorrectly penalised for handball in the box.
The ball clearly struck the Valencia captain’s shoulder and with his arm by his side it was a dreadful decision.
Lionel Messi equalised from the spot, his first Liga goal since September.
But Valencia would not be denied as Paco Alcacer converted the excellent Sofiane Feghouli’s low cross, with Jordi Alba’s dismissal for a second yellow card forcing Barca to play the final 13 minutes with 10 men.
The result means both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid can overtake Barcelona atop La Liga if they win their matches this weekend.
Trending
- Five men docked for pranking, videoing people
- Make discipline, hardwork, patriotism your watchwords, Marwa charges NMS Boys
- Why Primate Ayodele is sad about the death of Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi
- Ooni tells daughter at 30 to bring home a man for marriage
- 78 suspected internet fraudster arrested by EFCC in Enugu, Imo
- Three men docked for assaulting a medical doctor in Ogun
- 19-year-old pleads guilty to stealing N1.63m iron rods
- Nine LASU law graduates make list of 13 appointed as high court judges in Lagos