Late Messi penalty seals dramatic Barca win

Barcelona’s players react after the public threw bottles at them during the Spanish Liga match against Valencia at Mestalla Stadium on Saturday - Reuters

Reuters: Lionel Messi squeezed home a stoppage-time penalty to grab a thrilling 3-2 win for champions Barcelona in a controversial La Liga match at Valencia on Saturday.

Talisman Messi scored against Valencia for the 10th season in a row to put the visitors ahead in the 22nd minute although team mate Luis Suarez was in an offside position and obstructing the view of goalkeeper Diego Alves.

Earlier, Barca captain Andres Iniesta was carried off on a stretcher due to a knee injury while Sergio Busquets was fortunate not to receive a second yellow card before the break.

Valencia turned the game around in four second-half minutes, Munir El Haddadi equalising against his parent club and Rodrigo Moreno putting the hosts ahead in the 56th.

Suarez lashed the ball home to pull Barca level and after Nani had missed a gilt-edged chance for Valencia, the Uruguayan won a penalty in the dying seconds that Messi sneaked just under the grasp of Alves.

Barca are top of the table on 19 points. Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, both on 18, play on Sunday against Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao respectively.

“A lot of things happened in the game, the worst of all Andres’ injury,” said Barca coach Luis Enrique. “In the end we showed we are able to overcome adversity.”