Barcelona’s recent struggles continued as they were forced to settle for a draw against Valencia in La Liga, extending their winless streak to three matches.
Xavi’s team, coming off back-to-back losses – a 4-2 defeat to Girona in the league and a 3-2 setback against Royal Antwerp in the Champions League – were eager for a turnaround. Their hopes were briefly lifted when Joao Felix deftly converted Raphinha’s cross, putting Barcelona in the lead.
However, Valencia’s Hugo Guillamon had other plans, delivering a stunning strike into the top corner to level the score and snatch a point for his team.
This draw nudged Barcelona up to third in the league standings, yet they remain six points adrift of surprise leaders Girona, who also have a game in hand.
Despite creating superior opportunities in the latter stages of the match, Barcelona was repeatedly thwarted by Valencia’s goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. His standout performance included crucial saves from Barcelona’s Ferran Torres and a close-range attempt by Raphinha. Adding to Barcelona’s frustration, Yarek Gasiorowski made a remarkable goal-line block on Raphinha’s follow-up shot.
The stalemate leaves Valencia in a respectable mid-table position, occupying 10th place with 20 points from 17 games. For Barcelona, this result underscores a period of inconsistency and challenges in their domestic campaign.