Barcelona beats Valencia

MADRID: Lionel Messi scored his 27th league goal of the season as champion Barcelona defeated Valencia 1-0 at the Mestalla stadium on Wednesday, to move ten points clear of rival Real Madrid.

Messi netted a 76th minute winner as Barcelona continued its unbeaten away run to put Real under extra pressure to win at home to Malaga.

Ballon d'Or winner Messi missed several chances in the first half but came good 14 minutes from time, slotting in a cross from Adriano, to clinch a vital win.

It handed coach Pep Guardiola his first ever victory at the Mestalla, which had been the only top-flight venue where he had failed to secure three points.

For third-placed Valencia, it was a first league defeat since early December of last year and Villarreal is now just one point behind them in fourth.

Villa's return

It was an emotional return to the Mestalla for Spanish World Cup star David Villa, who spent five years at the club before joining Barcelona for 40 million euros in the summer, and the forward was given a warm reception from the home fans.

Spanish international playmaker Xavi returned to the Barca starting line-up after recovering from his calf injury to join Javier Mascherano and Sergi Busquets in midfield.

Valencia decided to play with Juan Mata, normally a winger, leading the line and the host started at a high tempo to try and disrupt Barcelona's possession game. Eric Abidal and Dani Alves were both forced to make crucial clearances for Barcelona early on before the champion found its rhythm.

In the ninth minute, Messi went clean through on goal but the Argentine fluffed a chance he usually buries on autopilot.

Messi had three chances to score but missed them all with goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, third choice at the beginning of the season, standing tall.

Valencia thought it had scored in the 20th minute but Jordi Alba's goal was ruled out for offside.

Just after the half hour mark, Messi squandered another goal scoring opportunity when his lob landed on the roof of the net with only Guaita to beat.

Villa and full-back Adriano both went close before the interval but Barcelona went into the break frustrated at the 0-0 scoreline.

Substitute Roberto Soldado volleyed just wide in the 51st minute for Valencia's best chance of the match. Pablo Hernandez then curled inches wide of the post minutes later to give Barcelona a warning.

The decisive goal came on 76 minutes with Brazilian Adriano cutting the ball across goal for Messi to arrive on cue to guide in with his trusty left foot.

Earlier, Villarreal ended a run of four league games without a win with a 1-0 home victory over promoted Hercules.

Italian international forward Giuseppe Rossi scored his 13th league goal of the season on 21 minutes to seal Villarreal's 11th home win of the campaign as it got back to winning ways after collecting two points from the last 12.

Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao crashed to its fourth successive league loss with a 2-1 reverse at Real Zaragoza.

Czech Jiri Jarosik headed an equaliser three minutes after the break and Nigerian striker Ikechuwku Uche scored the winner on 55 minutes.

Bilbao, which could have gone above Espanyol into fifth, stays sixth but Sevilla is now level on points after its 3-0 home win over Sporting Gijon on Tuesday.

The results: La Liga: Real Zaragoza 2 (Jarosik 48, Uche 55) bt Athletic Bilbao 1 (Llorente 18); Getafe 1 (Manu del Moral 3) drew with Atletico Madrid 1 (Elias 81); Villarreal 1 (Rossi 21) bt Hercules 0; Osasuna 0 drew with Deportivo La Coruna 0; Real Sociedad 1 (Zurutuza 53) drew with Levante 1 (Del Horno 77); Valencia 0 lost to Barcelona 1 (Messi 76) . — Agencies