Valencia 0-1 Barcelona: Five Talking Points

A stoppage time goal from Sergio Busquets was enough for Barcelona to come away from the Mestalla with all three points and move to within two points of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.Here are the major talking points from the game.

#1 A game that had everything

Games between Barcelona and Valencia are always entertaining, but this time around, something was different as it was not as one-sided as the recent clashes between the two sides. It was a thoroughly absorbing game that had absolutely everything.

Horrible dives courtesy of Neymar, some heroic defending courtesy of Shkodran Mustafi and co., brilliant saves from both goalkeepers, terrific tackling by the Valencia midfielders and it looked as though the only thing missing from the game was a goal.

But the last kick of the game, resulted in a goal and victory for Barcelona in a game in which technique gave way for temperament and tactics became more important than sheer talent.

#2 Enrique\'s gamble pays off eventually

Barcelona started the game in their traditional 4-3-3 formation, but instead of a solitary holding midfielder, manager Luis Enrique went for two in Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano. It was a move that meant that Xavi had to not only conduct the attack as he usually does but also join forward as well.

Although the switch made Barcelona more solid, it hampered their attack, as they didn't an attacking midfielder ala Iniesta or Rakitic to feed the ball to the front three and link up the attack. Had the Catalans not won the game then questions would have been asked, but Busquets saved the day for Enrique, who might have to rethink his plans for the next game as he might not always get lucky.

#3 Suarez still struggling in front of goal

Although he got his first goal for Barcelona against APOEL in the Champions League, Luis Suarez still doesn't look as sharp in La Liga. Against Valencia, although the Uruguayan striker got into good positions and created opportunities for himself, he was unable to take any of them.

Whether it was hitting an easy shot straight at the keeper early in the first half or wide when he had the goal gaping in the second half, the striker is still struggling to find his killer instinct in front of goal.

The only positive for Barcelona is that his link up is still very good and the striker is still putting himself in the right position time and again and it look as though it is only a matter of time before he nets his first.

#4 Valencia left to rue missed opportunities

Before the game, the home side knew that the Catalans had two major weak points. And by playing quick, intelligent players on the wings, Nuno Santo's side exploited both as they not only got at them on the flanks, but were also able to attack the space in behind the Barcelona defence quite effectively.

The home side defended resolutely but were also a threat going forward and created some very good chances as the game went on. On another day, Sofiane Feghouli would've hit the back of the net and Valencia would've been celebrating a victory, but instead the home side's failure to take at least one of the many chances they created meant that they succumbed to their second-successive defeat in the League.

#5 Barcelona still struggling to find the right rhythm in attack

A front three of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar shouldn't struggle to create opportunities in a game. But that is precisely what happened at the Mestalla as Catalan's front three were well shielded by the home defence.

Although the usual link between the midfield and attack was missing thanks to Enrique's decision to go more defensive, it was still surprising to see how very little danger, the front three posed. Apart from a couple of occasions in which the visitors hit the ball long, the trio didn't trouble the Valencia defence.

There was no movement, none of them were dribbling past defenders, no real trickery from the front three and that made it easy for the defence to keep them quiet. Irrespective of how the midfield lines up, the front three have to take more onus upon themselves.