Lionel Messi key as Barcelona defeat gallant Valencia

They must prove to their supporters, and themselves, that are up to the task of challenging Real Madrid for the La Liga title.

That defeat could maybe be excused as a hangover from their Champions League triumph against Paris Saint Germain the previous week, but this time there can be no excuses.

And whilst not matching that drama, there was no shortage of action as Valencia showed up the defensive flaws in Enrique’s new 3-4-3 system.

Andre Gomes then added a late insurance goal, his first for the club.

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique lauded the “amazing” Lionel Messi after he netted a brace to help the club to a 4-2 win over Valencia on Sunday.

Eliaquim Mangala headed the visitors in front from a corner, before Luis Suarez steered in an equaliser. Mangala was then sent-off just before half-time for unfairly denying Suarez a scoring opportunity inside the box.

Barca dominated the second half and took the lead for the second time when Messi smashed the ball past Alves’s near post but the visiting side created one chance to level again which Munir squandered.

An eventful first half for Mangala ended in abrupt fashion just minutes before the break.

Although Coutinho is a not an out-and-out central midfielder, Barca reportedly believe he could play down the middle in the hopes of strengthening the trio that plays behind the Catalan club’s attack force of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

However, the action wasn’t over yet and Valencia went down the other end straight from the restart and levelled things up when Munir, who is on-loan from Barcelona, tapped in from close-range after a good lay-off from Jose Gaya. Sevilla have 57 points while Atletico are in fourth place on 55.

Atletico Madrid ended a week which saw them reach the last eight of the Champions League in style as they enjoyed a comfortable win at home to third-placed Sevilla.

“Sevilla have had a magnificent season and have been lauded by the press”.

Carlos Soler put Marc-Andre ter Stegen to work for the first time, and Neymar had appeals for a penalty waved down, with replays confirming the Brazilian greatly exaggerated the contact.

“After losing to Depor we needed to win and now after the global break come the games that we all look forward to competing in”.

“Logically the league is now a long way off”.

Their 3-man defence was caught off guard on numerous occasions and it is clear that they still need to get used to this new formation.