Valencia 1-1 Barcelona: Player ratings as Barca held to frustrating draw

Barcelona failed to make up ground in the La Liga title race as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Valencia on Saturday evening.

Joao Felix tapped Barcelona ahead early in the second half but Xavi's side were repeatedly frustrated by the excellent Giorgi Mamardashvili in the Valencia net.

Valencia were quiet in the second half but profited from a lapse in defensive concentration to snatch an equaliser through Hugo Guillamon, whose excellent goal extends Barcelona's winless run to three games across all competitions.

How the game unfolded

Barcelona had a major scare after just 90 seconds. With the defence not yet awake, a quick move down the left ended with a cut-back for Roman Yaremchuk, whose low drive brought an excellent stop out of Inaki Pena in the Barca net.

Robert Lewandowski scuffed a shot wide ten minutes later in an entertaining opening 15 minutes which saw both sides share possession and efforts on goal, and the Poland international also saw an acrobatic effort well parried by Mamardashvili on the half-hour mark.

Most of Barcelona's opportunities came on the counter, with Joao Cancelo's over-the-top passes causing all sorts of problems, but the finishing touch was often lacking. Lewandowski's tame effort to chip the 6'6 Mamardashvili summed things up fairly well.

Barcelona found that missing spark ten minutes into the second half. An excellent pass from Frenkie de Jong found Raphinha in behind the defence, and the Brazilian's cross presented Felix with an empty net to tap home the opening goal.

There was much more energy about Barcelona and Raphinha was next to test Mamardashvili with a fierce strike from a tight angle, but Valencia's equaliser came out of nowhere with 20 minutes to go.

Hugo Guillamon had all the time in the world on the edge of the Barcelona box and bent a glorious effort into Pena's top corner, leaving the stopper with no chance.

Mamardashvili denied Barcelona an immediate response with a save from point-blank range to stop Ferran Torres, before the goalkeeper combined with Yarek Gasiorowski for an unbelievable double-block to keep Raphinha out as the clock ticked into the final 10 minutes.

The visitors pushed and pushed for a winner but returned to their profligate ways in front of goal and were forced to accept a share of the spoils.

Barcelona player ratings (4-3-3)

GK: Inaki Pena - 7/10 - A huge save early on to deny Yaremchuk and a handful of solid stops when Barcelona needed him most. Could do nothing about Guillamon's goal.

RB: Joao Cancelo - 7/10 - Some outrageous playmaking. His long balls over the top were usually pin-point and unstoppable. No idea how he hasn't racked up the assists.

CB: Ronald Araujo - 6/10 - Guilty of falling asleep for Guillamon's goal, which spoiled an otherwise solid showing.

CB: Jules Kounde - 5/10 - Endured a difficult first half but appeared to be figuring himself out after the break before a loss of concentration contributed to the equaliser.

LB: Alejandro Balde - 5/10 - Balde's attacking output was poor. Some really disappointing crossing.

DM: Frenkie de Jong - 7/10 - Great energy in midfield. Buzzed around to recover possession and try and make things happen. A beautiful pass to set up his side's opening goal. Lost his composure as the clock ticked on and picked up a needless yellow card for dissent which leaves him suspended for the next game.

CM: Pedri - 7/10 - Joined De Jong in a deeper role which really brought the best out of him. Some gorgeous playmaking.

CM: Ilkay Gundogan - 6/10 - Given the freedom to get forwards and impact things in attack. Popped up in a handful of nice places but couldn't find that final touch.

RW: Raphinha - 6/10 - Played an outrageous pass in the first half and grabbed the assist for Felix's opener in what was a hard-working, yet underwhelming performance.

ST: Robert Lewandowski - 6/10 - Clearly not at his sharpest and guilty of a handful of wrong decisions, but Lewandowski was a regular focal point and could have easily added a goal or two.

LW: Joao Felix - 7/10 - Really quiet in the first half but seemed buoyed by his goal and was a major threat in the second 45.

Substitutes

SUB: Ferran Torres (72' for Felix) - 6/10

SUB: Lamine Yamal (81' for Gundogan) - N/A

Subs not used: Diego Kochen (GK), Ander Astralaga (GK), Sergi Roberto, Pau Cubarsi, Hector Fort, Andreas Christensen, Oriol Romeu, Marc Casado, Fermin Lopez, Marc Guiu

Manager

Xavi - 5/10 - Changed things at half-time and got some immediate results, but the same problems persisted for Barcelona and there was no answer after the equaliser.

Player of the match: Giorgi Mamardashvili (Valencia)