Saved! Dani Parejo is the guilty party as Valencia spurn a golden chance to haul themselves level. Credit to Barca keeper Claudio Bravo though - the Chilean makes a stunning save, low to his right, to deny the away skipper.

Oh hello! Valencia have a penalty. Gerard Pique clumsily takes out Spain striker Rodrigo and referee Jose Luis Gonzalez does not hesitate in pointing to the spot.

Spanish La Liga

Exciting stuff at the Nou Camp as Valencia respond valiantly to Barca's early breakthrough. Los Che have a decent chance as Rodrigo cuts inside from the left and curls a shot just wide. Very open.

Image source, AP

Sebastian Rode creates room to shoot with some lightning-quick feet and curls his finish home to give Pep Guardiola's visitors a lead they scarcely deserve.

German Bundesliga

Hoffenheim go close but Bayern are indebted to their goalkeeper. Dante's error allows Anthony Modeste a shooting chance but Manuel Neuer pulls off a fine save to keep the scores level.

No goals yet but there's been three yellow cards in five minutes. Sebastian Rudy and Thomas Muller were booked following an altercation and Bayern defender Dante is the latest to pick up a yellow card. It's all a bit spiky.

Andy West
Spanish football writer at the Nou Camp

"What a start! Sergio Busquets releases Leo Messi who surges forward before finding Luis Suarez, and he slides home a low shot with just 55 seconds played. Can we ignore that bit where I said it won't be easy?"

Image source, Getty Images

What a start! There is barely 60 seconds on the clock before Luis Suarez prods in the opener for Barcelona. The man is on fire!

The referee toots his whistle for the first time today - game on!

Andy West
Spanish football writer at the Nou Camp

"An interesting team selection from Luis Enrique sees Javier Mascherano in the defensive midfield position, with Sergio Busquets pushed further forward than usual and Ivan Rakitic left on the bench. That decision will be subjected to relentless dissection if things go wrong…"

Spanish La Liga

Veteran midfielder Xavi leads his Barcelona team-mates into the Nou Camp tunnel as the two sides prepare to walk out into the Catalan sunshine. They are ready to roll...

German Bundesliga
German Bundesliga

Anthony Modeste - formerly of Blackburn Rovers, er, fame - goes close for Hoffenheim. He meets Sebastian Rudy's cross but, luckily for Bayern, the Frenchman's header goes wide.

Andy West
Spanish football writer at the Nou Camp

"Luis Enrique is usually reluctant to say much to the media, but yesterday he took the unusual step of making an emotional plea for Barca fans to turn up in numbers and get right behind the team.

"The average attendance here is around 80,000 - leaving 20,000 seats empty - and the atmosphere can be library-like when Barca are strolling through easy home games.

"But today Enrique wants the stadium to "tremble" in the way it does for Clasicos. That shows how highly he regards Valencia."

German Bundesliga

It's bright and sunny at the Rhein-Neckar Arena and Bayern have started well against seventh-placed Hoffenheim.

Robert Lewandowski and Sebastian Rode have both tried their luck from distance but fired off target.

German Bundesliga

Let's pop across to Germany for a moment as champions-elect Bayern Munich are already under way.

Bayern need just three more wins to wrap up the Bundesliga crown so will hold nothing back here, especially as they look to make amends for a disappointing showing against Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The hosts, meanwhile, are in seventh and are eyeing a final push in the season finale to secure Europa League football next term.

Andy West
Spanish football writer at the Nou Camp

"It's a beautiful spring day in Barcelona: warm, sunny and with a gentle cooling breeze. A perfect day for cricket, in fact. In the absence of leather on willow, I suppose we can settle for first vs fourth in La Liga.

"And let's say this straight away: Valencia are a good team. Despite having a new owner, new coach and a bunch of new players, they are very quickly developing into a formidable outfit. It will not be easy for Barca today."

Barcelona: Bravo, Adriano, Alves, Mathieu, Pique, Busquets, Mascherano, Xavi, Suarez, Messi, Neymar. Subs: Ter Stegen, Rakitic, Pedro, Rafinha, Bartra, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto.

Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich (14:30 BST)

Barcelona v Valencia (15:00)

Nice v PSG (16:00)

Deportivo La Coruna v Atletico Madrid (17:00)

PSV v Heerenveen (18:45)

Real Madrid v Malaga (19:00)

Juventus v Lazio (19:45)

Hola amigos! Welcome to our latest jaunt to mainland Europe, where the weather and several title races are hotting up nicely.

I know I've already said the Spanish title race isn't as good as last year - but that doesn't mean it still isn't exciting. We are focusing on Barca's home match against Valencia, before returning later on to see Real Madrid fare against Malaga. Here's what is coming up...

Image source, Getty Images

You won't be surprised to learn that this season's Spanish title race is failing to match the excitement of 12 months ago. Last season, we had Barcelona, Real Madrid and eventual champions Atletico Madrid all battling for La Liga, with Atleti eventually lifting the trophy on the final day of the campaign. At the Nou Camp in a winner-take-all clash.

But this season it is a two-horse race. Atleti's hopes of retaining their title look all but done, as Diego Simeone's men trail leaders Barca by nine points with seven matches left.

Real are two points adrift of their arch-rivals Barca - and are hoping fourth-placed Valencia can do them a favour today.