Spanish La Liga

...Dani Parejo sends the free-kick high over the bar. Chance gone.

Spanish La Liga

Sofiane Feghouli falls under the challenge of Dani Alves and Valencia have a free-kick 25 yards from goal, certainly in shooting range...

Image source, Getty Images

Oh that should have been goal number two in a Barcelona shirt for Luis Suarez! A raking pass finds Lionel Messi in the middle of the Valencia area, the ball runs loose from the forward but Suarez races on to it and rifles a shot at goal, but he hits it straight at Diego Alves in the Valencia goal.

Spanish La Liga

Rodrigo is the first to test either goalkeeper as the Valencia forward wriggles past a couple of challenges just inside the Barcelona area and lashes a shot at goal, but Claudio Bravo is there to bat the ball away.

Image source, Reuters

Advantage Roma midway through the first half as Gervinho stabs in Adem Ljajic's cross from close range.

Spanish La Liga

Image source, AFP

Very even start with both side's attacks getting snuffed out by the respective defences. A loose header almost falls for Neymar in the box, but Shkodran Mustafi heads clear.

John McEnerney:, external At last a FCB coach that sees Mascherano is a midfielder not a defender, Busquets will play deeper & JM will do the job he did in the WCup.

Barcelona have won more away games at Valencia than anywhere else, but the hosts are unbeaten on home soil so far this season. Surely we are in for a classic?

Interesting as well to see Javier Mascherano and Sergio Busquets in the Barcelona midfield together as Valenica get things under way.

Italian Serie A

Roma are the first to threaten as Francesco Totti has a go at goal, but his shot is weak and the ball drifts wide.

Ben Stephens: Dortmund's fall from grace is horrible to watch for a neutral, especially after recent years of their success and accolades.

Italian Serie A

Image source, Reuters

What can Roma do in response to Juventus's win? Their game against Roberto Mancini's Inter is under way.

Spanish La Liga

European football writer Andy West on Twitter:, external "Mascherano in midfield alongside Busquets? It's getting increasingly difficult to see what Luis Enrique's plan is for Barca. If he has one."

Image source, Getty Images

The Mestalla is a bit of a happy hunting ground for Lionel Messi. His trio of goals scored in 41 minutes of last season's game at Valencia was the second fastest hat-trick of his career. His quickest was achieved against Mallorca in October 2011 at the Camp Nou.

Image source, Roma/Twitter

The pressure is on Roma now after Juventus's dramatic last-gasp win against Torino. They trail the Serie A leaders by six points but will perhaps fancy their chances against an Inter side who have not won in the league since 29 October.

That game kicks off in just under 10 minutes.

Roma starting XI: De Sanctis; Maicon, Manolas, Astori, Cholevas; Pjanic, Keita, Nainggolan; Gervinho, Totti, Ljajic.

Inter starting XI: Handanovic, Campagnaro, Ranocchia, Juan Jesus, Dodo, M'Vila, Medel, Kuzmanovic; Guarin, Osvaldo, Palacio

Image source, Bayern Munich/Twitter

I make no apologies for dropping this entry on Bayern Munich announcing their Christmas calendar in here for no other reason than the utterly fantastic picture of Thomas Muller. Legend.

Ben Turner:, external No wonder Dortmund are trying so hard in the CL this season. winning it is the only way they'll qualify next season.

Image source, Getty Images

Barcelona could do with a victory today to keep the pressure on La Liga leaders Real Madrid, who are currently five points clear of Luis Enrique's side.

Taking three points at Valencia will be easier said than done, however. They are just one place and four points behind Barcelona, and have a strong home record, having not lost at the Mestalla this season.

"Valencia are a difficult opponent," says Enrique. "They are playing at a much higher level than in recent seasons. If you win, it is a great boost for the team, but we start every game with the same objective. Whether we win or lose it won't be definitive in the title race."

Barcelona make one change as Javier Mascherano comes in for Ivan Rakitic. On-loan Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo lines up in attack for Valencia.

Barcelona starting XI: Bravo, Pique, Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Suarez, Messi, Neymar, Mascherano, Jordi Alba, Alves, Mathieu.

Valencia starting XI: Alves, Barragan, Mustafi, Otamendi, Gaya, Javi Fuego, Parejo, André Gomes, Feghouli, Negredo, Rodrigo.

Gary Lineker
BBC Sport

"Borussia Dortmund lose again and are rock bottom of the Bundesliga. Klopp for the drop?"

Image source, Getty Images

While things just seem to get better and better for Lionel Messi, the same cannot be said of Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund. The German side are BOTTOM of the Bundesliga after a 2-0 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt today.

What has gone wrong this season? Has there been a more dramatic turnaround in form in such a short space of time than Dortmund's?

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