SAN FRANCISCO, December 19, (THEWILL) – Argentine superstar Lionel Messi matched Pele’s one-club goals record in Barcelona’s game against Valencia in Saturday’s entertaining La Liga clash at Camp Nou but it was not enough as they were held to a 2-2 draw.
Messi’s 643rd milestone goal cancelled out Mouctar Diakhaby’s deserved opener for Valencia, and Ronald Araujo then put the hosts in front with an acrobatic strike – his first Barcelona goal at senior level.
Manager Ronald Koeman fielded an attack-based squad with only one holding midfielder. For a free-scoring Valencia side with a lively midfield, it meant that Barca were regularly caught out at the back. And the responsibility of bailing his side out with a good save after another fell on goalie Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Though Valencia were winless in four league games coming into this tie, they scored the opener in Catalonia through centre back Mouctar Diakhaby’s free header in the 29th minute from a Carlos Soler corner.
French forward Antoine Griezmann was denied by keeper Jaume Domenech at the end of a swift counter. While Martin Braithwaite had a strong penalty appeal turned down, Ter Stegen produced a brilliant stop to keep out Gomez in an post-to-post contest.
The Blaugrana were gifted a chance to draw level when Valencia captain Jose Gaya was penalised for nudging Griezmann in the back. A lengthy VAR review confirmed the penalty but did not think it merited Gaya a red card, which Alejandro Hernandez, the referee, reduced to a yellow.
The penalty kick was Messi’s responsibility and Domenech read it well and pushed it off heroically. But, left back Jordi Alba sent a deflected cross back into the area for the Barca captain to nod over the line from two yards for his landmark goal.
Early in the second half, Barca had another scare. Right midfielder Denis Cheryshev sliced wide from a glorious position and, three minutes later, Araujo sent a delightful half-volley away from keeper Domenech.
However, the visitors responded through Gomez, who got in front of centre back Oscar Mingueza to poke in Gaya’s left-sided cross to make it 2-2 and they held on for a share of the spoils.
Barca’s next game is an away tie against Valladolid on Tuesday while Valencia welcome Sevilla to the Estadio de Mestalla on the same day.
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.
