Barcelona 2-1 Valencia: Catalans set record and close in on title

Luis Suárez celebra el gol con el que estrenó el marcador | Valentí Enrich

Jordi Gil

14/04/2018 Upd. at 23:12 CEST

Philippe Coutinho set up Luis Suarez and Samuel Umtiti for their goals

Barcelona beat Valencia 2-1 on Saturday to move provisionally 14 points clear at the top of La Liga and close in on the Spanish title.

MATCH FACTS

Liga Santander

FCB

2 ________________ 1

VAL

LINE UP

FC Barcelona

Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto (Semedo, 91'), Piqué, Umtiti, Jordi Alba, Busquets, Paulinho, Iniesta (Denis Suárez, 83'), Coutinho (Dembélé, 77'), Messi y Luis Suárez

Valencia CF

Neto, Ruben Vezo, Gabriel Paulista, Garay, Gayà, Kondogbia, Parejo, Carlos Soler, Guedes (Andreas, 68'), Santi Mina (Vietto, 70') y Rodrigo (Zaza, 78')

Goles

1-0, Luis Suárez (14'); 2-0, Umtiti (51'); 2-1, Parejo, de penalti (86')

Árbitro

Del Cerro Grando (madrileño). TA: Piqué (6') / Kondogbia (11'), Gabriel Paulista (74')

Incidencias

Camp Nou, 69.544 espectadores

The victory also meant they have gone 39 matches unbeaten, a record in the division, surpassing Real Sociedad's 38, set in 1980.

Barca were below their best and needed Marc-Andre ter Stegen to be at his best in goal, with the German denying third-place Valencia at crucial moments.

Camp Nou was half empty as fans stayed away, still sulking perhaps after Champions League elimination on Tuesday by Roma, something which has soured the mood around the club, but Barcelona went ahead after 15 minutes.

Phillipe Coutinho, who was not available in the Champions League and might have made a difference in Rome, created the goal by playing a perfect through-ball for Suarez to finish.

Valencia rallied and created chances, but Ter Stegen was more than equal to them. His best save came of a situation of his own making, with Ter Stegen giving the ball away but then tipping Rodrigo Moreno's fierce strike onto the bar from close range.

Umtiti headed home Coutinho's corner at the start of the second half to secure Barcelona's position and give them a safety net, which was tested when Ousmane Dembele committed a silly late tackle in the area and Dani Parejo converted the penalty.