Luis Suarez scored early on to give Barcelona a 1-0 half-time lead over Valencia at Camp Nou in La Liga this afternoon.
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The home side were ahead inside the opening minute when Lionel Messi burst into the box before squaring the ball to Suarez, leaving the Uruguayan to slice it into the bottom corner.
Valencia had a chance to get back on level terms just a few minutes later when they were awarded a penalty after Gerard Pique appeared to foul Rodrigo, but Claudio Bravo blocked Daniel Parejo's spot kick.
Los Che continued to push for an equaliser, but Parejo's cross for Nicolas Otamendi failed to test the keeper as he headed just wide, while Paco Alcacer flicked his finished wide a few minutes later after another delivery from Parejo.
Valencia continued to look the more likely as the half-hour mark approached, with Alcacer attempting to convert from a corner after Sofiane Feghouli had his effort blocked, but the striker saw his finish kept out by the post, while the Algerian had another effort go just high.
Messi was through for a shot shortly before the break when a high ball forward fell to him on the edge of the box, but he blasted it wide from just a few yards out.
Sian Cowper
