Lionel Messi missed a slew of chances before squeezing home a late strike to give Barcelona a 1-0 win at third-placed Valencia in La Liga on Wednesday and stretch the champions lead over Real Madrid to 10 points.
With Barca looking like they might drop points for only the fourth time this season, Messi struck a low shot in the 77th minute at the Mestalla that spun just inside the post off the outstretched arm of Valencia goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.
It was the World Player of the Year and La Liga top scorer's 27th of the season and lifted Barca to 71 points from 26 matches. They have now won 12 of their 13 away matches, drawing last month at Sporting Gijon in their only slip-up on the road.
It was the World Player of the Year and La Liga top scorer's 27th of the season and lifted Barca to 71 points from 26 matches. They have now won 12 of their 13 away matches, drawing last month at Sporting Gijon in their only slip-up on the road.
Real can trim the gap to seven with a win at Malaga on Thursday, when the Andalusian club's coach Manuel Pellegrini returns to the Bernabeu to face the man who replaced him at Real at the end of last season, Jose Mourinho.
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