Neymar will be seeing Shkodran Mustafi in his nightmares tonight. The Barca forward finds an inch of space in the Valencia area, the Los Che defender again blocking.

Barcelona are still chasing, Valencia still defending like their lives depend on not conceding. Neymar tries to jink his way into the box, but Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi - not for the first time - superbly dispossessing his opponent. 

Ten minutes to go. Can Barca nick a leveller? Or more? Atletico Madrid are set to stay level on points with the leaders if they can't...

Pass, pass, pass, Valencia block. Pass, pass, pass, Valencia block. The game has a familiar pattern at the moment as Barca probe for another opening. Rodrigo buys his side some time, cleverly winning a free-kick in his own box after falling into Ivan Rakitic's clumsy challenge. Hook, line and sinker.

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Stunning save from Valencia keeper Diego Alves. The Brazilian has earned his monthly pay packet in one night here. Ivan Rakitic thinks he has slotted into the bottom left corner from about 12 yards, but Alves has other ideas. He flings himself low to his right to push clear. Brilliant!

Jeers from the home fans as Valencia take an age to make a change. Midfielder Enzo Perez is sacrificed for right-back Joao Cancelo. Everyone behind the ball!

Barcelona are hardly throwing the kitchen sink at Valencia. In fact they are barely throwing the dishcloth at them. Neymar has a half chance, accelerating down the left, but a low shot from a narrow angle lacks the power to trouble Valencia keeper Diego Alves.

Is it a bit too early to time waste? Not if you are Valencia's Andre Gomes. He goes into the referee's notepad for refusing to give the ball back to Barca after he is caught offside.

Barcelona haven't lost three Liga games in a row since 2003. But they've still got plenty of hard work to do if they are going to avoid matching that unwanted record tonight. The mood inside the Camp Nou has lifted after that Messi goal.

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Rambo Rambo: I can see Barca winning 3-2 with MSN all scoring and shutting up the doubters.

Lovina Irinkwa: Everybody talking about how bad Barca are playing while not giving credit to the other team. It shows the other team played better.

Seth Gogo Egoeh: Real Madrid's title challenge collapsed last season & Barca took advantage. I'm not a bit surprised same thing is happening.

Adam Pake: Big problem for Barca is lack of depth-especially with the front three. Their bench is good, but not good enough.  

Not only has Messi has scored, he's scored a landmark goal. The Barcelona superstar finds the net to end a barren run of five games without a goal, bringing up the 500 mark for club and country...

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First change of the evening...but it isn't Barcelona who make it. Valencia goalscorer Santi Mina comes off, not surprising as he has put a shift in. On comes Spain striker Paco Alcacer in his place...

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Wave after wave of Barcelona attacks. Left-back Jordi Alba wildly swipes an angled drive wide, then Neymar gets crowded out as he looks to wriggle into space inside the Valencia box to shoot. Valencia are throwing in bodies everywhere!

Our friend Dafydd (see below) makes a great point...this Valencia team don't appear to have been scarred by that Copa del Rey thumping at the Camp Nou.

Tonight they are enjoying themselves on the big stage..and almost bag a third. Goalscorer Santi Mina forces Barca keeper Claudio Bravo into a smart save.

Jake Organ: Barca haven't replaced Xavi, and Iniesta is ageing. Their attack is amazing, but teams are learning how to stifle their supply.

Dafydd Wood: Forget Barca's decline, Valencia 2-0 up was unthinkable after the 7-0 in Feb. Just shows the good sacking Gary Neville can do!

AJ Vergette: Barcelona so used to winning they forgot about level headedness and working hard. Where Simeone has the edge now

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Ouch! Valencia's Dani Parejo sees a yellow card waved in his direction after scything down Neymar about 25 yards out. Lionel Messi stands over the free-kick, Lionel Messi slams the ball into the wall. Not for the first time tonight.

Not happened for Lionel Messi tonight. The Ballon d'Or winner tries to jink his way through a wall of white shirts in the Valencia box, only to find his route blocked.