March 05, (THEWILL) – Barcelona managed to hold on to a narrow 1-0 victory against Valencia in a hard-fought encounter at the Nou Camp.
Despite going down to 10 men after Ronald Araujo, was sent off for pulling down Hugo Duro, the hosts managed to keep their opponents at bay and claim a vital three points.
Raphinha gave Barcelona the lead after just 15 minutes with a well-placed header from a Sergio Busquets cross, but the hosts were unable to double their lead despite dominating possession throughout the game. Valencia had a few chances of their own but were largely kept quiet by a resolute Barcelona defence.
The second half started with a penalty awarded to Barcelona for handball, but Ferran Torres failed to convert it, hitting the post. Despite Araujo’s sending-off, Barcelona held on and even managed to create a few more chances, with Ansu Fati hitting the post with a minute left to play.
The win sees Barcelona move up to third in the La Liga table, with Valencia remaining in ninth place. Barcelona will travel to face Athletic Bilbao in their next league match while Valencia will host Osasuna on Saturday.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
