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Lionel Messi scored his ninth consecutive game, but his last double on Saturday was enough for Barcelona to get a 2-2 draw against Valencia.
Messi prompted another return from Barca to Camp Nou before questioning his availability for the Copa del Rey Clasico on Wednesday against Real Madrid.
Ernesto Valverde confirmed after the match that his captain had felt a "small problem" but had insisted that it was nothing serious.
It is unlikely that Valverde will take any risks given the upcoming months of the Barcelona trials, even though the absence of Messi, as short as it may be, would be a blow, especially as long as he is in a form too. irresistible.
Kevin Gameiro and Dani Parejo's penalty shoot-out gave Valencia a two-goal lead, but Messi scored a goal before scoring in a brilliant equalizer 26 minutes from the end.
After a spectacular midweek return against Sevilla, Barca seemed destined to finish his job, but at the end of a thrilling match, Valencia had held for a point.
"When you do not win, you always feel like you have missed something," Valverde said. "But the league is long and there are matches where we run into a good team. He was one of those. – Encouragement for the rest –
Messi 's 20th and 21st goals in the season allow his team to have six points ahead of Atletico Madrid, who could narrow the gap to three by beating Real Betis on Sunday, while Real Madrid had 11 points, at home against Alaves.
After eight consecutive victories in Barcelona in La Liga, this result may have at least encouraged the fighter squad.
Messi scored 2 more goals tonight. It's 9 games on the rebound and 7 games he played this year. Ridiculous
– Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 2, 2019
The real could inflict other disturbances. The first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday will be the first of three Clasicos in a month. The last two will be back to back, within four days.
But Messi in form and in this form means all confidence. The real sensation comes with an asterisk.
His 12 goals in his last nine games represent the same number of points that the entire Valencia team has achieved in their first 15 league games. Valencia was 15th in December, with just three wins, and his coach Marcelino was under pressure just six months after returning to the Champions League.
The club kept the faith and the results improved. They have lost only one of their last seven games and are within sight of the top four.
Valencia deserved its lead in the first half and could have scored earlier, with Parejo getting a smart save from Marc-André ter Stegen before Denis Cheryshev made the rebound at the back post.
Visitors took their chances while two decisions were made in minutes. First, Barca could have inflicted a penalty when Gabriel Paulista blocked Nelson Semedo's shot with his hand.
Then, the home team should have had a free kick since Messi was wrapped up by Parejo. The latter was the key to success, Valencia having been tempted by the attacker.
Rodrigo carried the ball over a distance of 40 meters before sliding a nice pbad back behind Vermaelen and Gameiro hit in the end.
Valencia had a clear penalty after Sergi pushed Daniel Wbad to the back, while Parejo hit the ball in the corner to double the score.
Barca looked shocked but the third goal in 15 minutes was theirs. Semedo beat Toni Lato against Arturo Vidal's pbad and collapsed after a shin injury. Messi slammed the ball in the upper corner but the whistle sounded. He instead got the penalty.
Sergi's shot was crushed against the post and Barca was dominant after halftime. At the other end, at a rare break in Valencia, Rodrigo should have scored three goals but, on the stretch, scoring him six yards.
It was in the 63rd minute and at the 64th, Barcelona was tied. Vidal was preparing Messi, who was lifting his left foot and rolling the ball inside the pole.
The teams and the crowd seemed to catch their breath in anticipation of a late thrust, but that never came. The draw was a fair result.
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