Barcelona and Valencia played out a hard fought 1-1 draw at the Mestalla Stadium last night, with Jordi Alba and Moreno Rodrigo getting the goals.
The score stayed 0-0 going into half time, before Rodrigo Moreno scored his 8th of the season in the 60th minute for Valencia to take the lead. It would require a stunning assist from Lionel Messi and a fine Jordi Alba finish to bring Barcelona on level terms in the 82nd minute.
As things stand, Barcelona are still at the top of the table with 35 points to their name, while Valencia have 31 and hold on to second place. Both sides remain unbeaten this season in the La Liga.
30 minutes into the game, Barcelona should have taken the lead through a Lionel Messi strike, which was fumbled over the line by Neto but the subsequent replays showed that the Argentine was wrongfully denied.
So Valencia keeper Neto had his own ‘Roy Carroll’ moment last night. Messi denied a blatant goal by the officials. #Messi #Mufc pic.twitter.com/FlEcVuFnSR
— Marcus Chhan (@MarcusChhan) November 27, 2017
Lionel Messi has gone 6 senior apps in a row without scoring for 1st time since 2010, having been denied a 1st half goal by the officials pic.twitter.com/bWzrPxYfL5
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) November 26, 2017
Mad that they don’t have goal-line technology in La Liga. Think they’ll be revisiting the debate after Messi’s goal was ruled not to have crossed the line when it clearly did.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 26, 2017
They’re gonna nag because Messi’s goal didn’t count & they’ll for the introduction of GLT because of it.
Anyone mentioned a single word when THIS happened a few weeks back? pic.twitter.com/FqPoh6RfxY
— Ali (@RM_Insider) November 26, 2017
Messi explaining to the referee after the game that his shot clearly passed the line.pic.twitter.com/EdVcmnLEdx
— FCB One Touch (@fcb_OneTouch) November 26, 2017
Don’t understand people opposed to video refs. How can you not want mistakes like this to be corrected? pic.twitter.com/18Hip0mt8j
— Andy West (@andywest01) November 26, 2017
If @LaLiga really wants to become the best league in the world, then they should invest in basic technology first. PL probably has the GLT for the second season running & LL couldn’t even study how it faired in their (PL) previous season and think of implementing it this year. pic.twitter.com/y1K7pkaN1O
— Leo Messi ? (@WeAreMessi) November 27, 2017
Referees should be fired for performances like these
— Messi World (@MessiWorId) November 26, 2017
SCANDAL – Referee ready to give Rodrigo yellow card. But doesn’t give when he remembers it’s his second.
LA LIGA IS FIXED pic.twitter.com/74ufGdIePj
— Leo Messi (@messi10stats) November 26, 2017
Messi’s disallowed goal at the Camp Nou and now at the Mestalla. That’s how a club not named Real Madrid can win La Liga these days.
— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) November 26, 2017
Very fond of Messi to walk the blind guy off the pitch.
Hero. pic.twitter.com/wXHJL7zvXF
— nextBarca (@nextBarca) November 26, 2017
Jordi Alba would go on to score in the 82nd minute to help the Blaugrana salvage a point.
JORDI ALBA : THUG LIFE
TOTALLY RUINED ALL THE PARTY PLANS IN VALENCIA! pic.twitter.com/6xxN7CfsH9
— BarcelonaBoy (@iBarcelonaBoy) November 27, 2017
Jordi Alba on his old patch. Big goal. Big finale now…
— Ben Hayward (@bghayward) November 26, 2017
WHAT A GOAL JORDI ALBA
— Jack Suggitt (@Tedescology) November 26, 2017
5⃣ @JordiAlba has been directly involved in more goals than any other defender in @LaLiga this season.
⚽
? ? ? ? pic.twitter.com/20KhttZydQ— Dugout (@Dugout) November 26, 2017
Alba could teach Suárez a thing or two about beating the offside trap to score!
— FCB News (@FCBNewsRoom) November 26, 2017
However, despite setting up the assist for the winner, some fans were divided on Messi’s performance on the night.
Please don’t even try and blame Messi’s shortcomings in yet another big game on Goal Line Tech. 30 year old man and he can’t even generate enough power to have a shot comfortably go past the keeper & over the line. Ronaldo constantly has the net rippling. Levels.
— adam (@FutboiAdam) November 26, 2017
If you ever had any doubts about how low Messi’s standards have fallen, Cules are actually claiming that he had a good game after that disasterclass. Some even convincing themselves that he scored, so sad man.
— adam (@FutboiAdam) November 26, 2017
2 goals in the last 10 games for Messi but Cules too busy changing their name to Ronaldos conversion rate
— . (@IconicCristiano) November 26, 2017
Messi has been instrumental, no doubt, but he also been very wasteful lately.
— BarcAddicts (@BarcAddicts) November 27, 2017
Messi was really poor all game then that piece of brilliance to set up the goal. 77% pass accuracy and lost ball possession 38 times. Testament to the great work of our midfielders and CBs.
— Don Michelangelo Pietà (@Cerebrone) November 26, 2017
Messi didn’t even have the best of games but he still won us that 1 point. That goal simply doesn’t happen. Valencia positioned so well yet he finds that pass somehow.
— Josip (@jperkovic93) November 26, 2017
In the absence of outlets in the final third, Messi’s brilliance is limited to moments. He’s so good he could win you games with a glimpse of individual magic.
— C (@CruyffismFCB) November 26, 2017
Best passer, best dribbler and best goal scorer in the world. Imagine comparing anyone to Messi
— Kane (@kanewhelan2) November 26, 2017
There is Assist and there is Assistance.
Messi’s assist was an Assistance that broke through Resistance ??pic.twitter.com/bHKzMO6cnk#ValenciaBarça— GREAT GRACIOUS (@GreatGracious) November 26, 2017
