Valencia 1-1 Barcelona: summary, score, goals, highlights, LaLiga 23-24

FT: Valencia 1-1 Barça

Time up at Mestalla but still no whistle.

Finally, a few seconds later, the referee calls time on the action and a draw is possibly a fair result...although Xavi's men will feel they did enough to secure maximum points. 

Raphinha screws the ball across the face of the Valencia goal and there is no-one in a yellow shirt there to tap home.

Next up for Valencia, a trip to Rayo Vallecano next Tuesday as Barcelona face Almeria in the Catalan capital next Wednesday.

A shot from Araujo but the Uruguayan screws his effort wide and time slipping away and FCB looking at another poor result

We'll have six additional minutes of action.

Good chance for Barcelona now as Yamal is clipped by Foulquier and the home side will need to defend this.

Mamardashvili saves and the Georgian has been the best player for the home side tonight.

De Jong clips Correia and the Valencia man makes a meal of things looking to see a few more seconds tick down.

The clock ticks down and Barcelona are the side looking for the winner with Valencia, one feels happy to settle for the point.

Giorgi Mamardashvili once again is the hero for Valencia as he intercepts a dangerous cross.

Barcelona almost find a second as Giorgi Mamardashvili denies Raphinha once again as the side in yellow press again as we enter the final minutes of the contest.

Yamal on for Gundogan

Triple change for Valencia

Free from Valencia and tha ball drifts over as the home side make three changes.

Cancelo carded as he uses the elbow to dispute a ball.

Valencia have really been boosted by that goal and have grown in confidence since the Guillamon strike.

De Jong carded and will now miss the Almeria match with suspension.

A draw tonight would see Barcelona without a win in their past three outings after the defeats to Girona and Antwerp.

Fifteen left at Mestalla and the home fans have really upped the noise levels ....

Joao Felix off and Torres on for Barcelona.

VAR looking at the replay with a possible offside in the build-up...

Fran Perez maybe offside....

No... VAR awards the goal.

All level at Mestalla.

Twenty minutes left at Mestalla and Barcelona are very much the dominant side now as the men in black and white struggle to chase the game.

Giorgi Mamardashvili does well in saving from Raphinha as the Brazilian drills a shot at the Georgian's near post.

In the bulid-up to the Barcelona goal, there is one of the most sublime passes you will see from Dutch midfielder De Jong to release Raphinha before the Brazilian squared for Joao Felix.

Fran Perez is carded as he lashes out at Gundogan.

Barcelona almost find the second with a move similar to that of the goal as Gundogan fouls Thierry Correia.

Canos on for Yaremchuk ... first Valencia swap

We pass the hour mark as Barcelona have the bit between their teeth.

Time for Baraja to look to the bench?

Barcelona press and almost bag a second as Joao Felix stabs the ball goal bound and it needs a block from a Valencia man.

Hesitation as the former Benfica striker fails to celebrate, possibly thinking he was offside but the goal is legit and stands.

Gundogan goes agonisingly close for Barcelona as the German international clips the ball inches wide of the Valencia goal.

48,892 is the official match attendance tonight.

Valencia now press down the other end and Pedri is forced to deflect the ball wide for a corner.

The flag goes up as Lewandowski unleashes a powerful left foot volley which goes inches wide.

All set for the second half.

Valencia get the action underway.

No changes it would appear at the interval.

So, what can we expect in the second 45?

The sides are poised to return to the pitch.

Both teams could really do with a win.

Lewandowski has gone closest for the visitors with Duro and Yaremchuk looking dangerous for the home side

It's been a bright and open game with both teams enjoying solid spells of domination as the whistle sounds for the interval.

We'll have three minutes at the end of the half. 

Free for Barça as Gundogan and Raphinha are over the ball.

Diakhaby clears the danger.

Less than five minutes remain in the first half.

Still goalless in Mestalla.

Valencia counter but fail to break through the wall of yellow shirts.

Guillamon is on the floor as he collides with Joao Felix.

Tremendous noise being generated by the home supporters who have not let the decibels level drop since kick-off.

One senses that Barcelona opening goal is getting closer and closer.

Fine effort from Pedri as he drives ball over the bar following fine play from Lewandowski who provides the assist.

A very discreet sowing so far this evening from Joao Felix.

The Portuguese man getting little action at Mestalla tonight.

We pass the half hour mark and no goals at Mestalla with the better chances falling Barcelona's way.

Valencia now second best with the visitors wrestling back domination.

Lewandowski almost finds the net for Barcelona as the men in yellow peg Valencia back now and that acrobatic effort needed a save from the Georgian stopper.

Gundogan tries a cheeky back heel but the German international is flagged for offside.

Yaremchuk beats the offside trap and is through on goal but takes a poor first touch and the ball runs into the arms of Iñaki Peña in the Barcelona goal.

Pepelu and Raphinha collide and Mestalla appeals for a spot kick...

nothing going for the ref.

Barcelona shading matters in terms of possession.

Lewandowski shoots and Giorgi Mamardashvili parrys the ball back into play and without a doubt the best chance for the visitors so far tonight.

Valencia the better side now after a bright start from the Catalan side.

Valencia corner as Diego Lopez is ready to pounce.

Barcelona manager to clear the danger.

Lewandowski is on the surface at Mestalla after a clash and seems to have developed a back problem.

Ferran Torres comes out to warm up as a precautionary measure.

Valencia do look good on the break as Thierry Correia has a go from distance but the man from Portugal drills well over.

Lewandowski almost opens the scoring after fine play from De Jong.

Mouctar Diakhaby blocks the effort but the ball was out of play in the build up.

Barcelona now enjoying the bulk of possession as Fran Perez almost sprints past Pedri but the 21-year-old takes the ball out of play.

First corner of the night falls for Barcelona as Mosquera concedes the dead ball kick.

Raphinha to take. The Ball falls to Balde who sees his effort blocked.

Roman Yaremchuk almost puts the home side after a quick throw releases the home side and it needs a fine save from Peña to deprive the Ukraine international.

Barça start the action and we're underway in Valencia.

David Silva will take the guest kick-off ahead of the start.

A huge ovation for the Canary Islander.

Final checks completed and we're good to go at Mestalla.

Mouctar Diakhaby and Araujo on captain duty tonight as they pose with the officials as part of the pre game protocol.

The home side are in their classic white shirts/black shorts with Barcelona opting to sport their all yellow jerseys and shorts.

A packed house at Mestalla as kick-off looms in Valencia.

Team news reminder: Barça

Team news reminder: Valencia

Busy schedule coming up for Barça

After tonight's Mestalla clash, Xavi's side will face Almeria next week in LaLiga before travelling to Texas to face Liga MX giants América in a benefit game for the victims of Hurricane Otis.

The Catalan side start the new year away in Las Palmas before facing lower league Barbastro in the Copa del Rey and then travel to Riyadh for the Super Cup.

VCF-FCB: head to head

Valencia have won 63 games in their meetings with FC Barcelona with 57 matches ending in a draw.

Barcelona have secured 113 wins in their head to head games against Los Che.

Silva to honoured

The Mestalla club will unveil a special plaque paying tribute to the Canary Islander who played for Valencia from 2004-2010 before moving to Manchester City.

Valencia team news out

Diakhaby captains the side in the absence of the injured Gaya with Hugo Duro looking to provide the attacking threat for the Barcelona rear guard.

FCB XI named

Once again, Peña mans the sticks with Ter Stegen set to be sidelined after undergoing surgery.

Lewandowski, Joao Felix and Raphinha will offer attacking threat.

Under pressure Xavi

Speaking ahead of the game in Valencia, Barça boss Xavi stated “we have worked very well for two years together. We are in the middle of creating a great Barça side.”

“It’s surprising to me that at the first hurdle people have jumped ship” - Xavi, back to Valencia, we said! - ”We have to be united: the fans, the board, the players. I see that with the media it’s not like that. We have to believe in the players, in the project. The alarms always go off here when things don’t go well, because everything is in play. Last season things went worse and we ended up having a good season. We have to be positive.”

The boss was asked whether or not the players are behind his idea, to which he said that “he has no doubt” that they are: “If it weren’t like that, I’d leave. The people believe and on the inside we are together. We have to improve and keep going”.

VCF-FCB: match officials

The Spanish FA have selected the following team to oversee the Mestalla clash.

Ortiz Arias: Referee

De Burgos Bengoetxea: VAR

José Garrido: Assistant referee

Santiago Sacristán: Assistant referee

Pérez Hernández: Fourth official

Absent for Valencia

Ruben Baraja faces Barcelona without key players Gaya, Almeida both injured and the suspended Gabriel and Javi Guerra. 

Lewandowski goal secures FCB win

In the corresponding fixture last season, the Catalan side secured maximum points with a goal from Polish striker Robert Lewandowski as part of a 0-1 win.

Four defeats all season for Baraja's Valencia with a win tonight seeing Los Che leapfrog Rayo Vallecano who lost on Friday away to Osasuna.

Two defeats this season for Barcelona as the Catalan giants now sit in fourth place in LaLiga.

Earlier today, in Bilbao, Athletic ran out 2-0 winners over Atletico Madrid.

VAL-FCB: global start times

Wondering at what time the Valencia vs FC Barcelona game starts where you are in the world?

Don't worry as the VCF Twitter account has got you covered.

Barça to sport yellow change kit

The away dressing room at Mestalla is ready with Xavi's men to use their yellow 'Senyera' away kit tonight.

Barcelona under pressure after Girona and Antwerp defeats.

It's probably the home defeat at the hands of Girona that hurts more as Xavi's men were comprehensively outclassed by their Catalan counterparts.

With an experimental team and a top place in the group already in the bag, there can be mitigating circumstances to the midweek loss in Antwerp.

FCB squad

Barcelona boss Xavi has picked as strong a squad as possible, having to work around the forced absences of the injured Gavi, Marc-André ter Stegen, Marcos Alonso and Iñigo Martínez.

Full squad:  João Cancelo, Balde, R. Araujo, Ferran, Pedri, Lewandowski, Raphinha, Iñaki Peña, João Félix, Christensen, Romeu, S. Roberto, F. De Jong, Gündoğan, Kounde, Astralaga, Lamine Yamal, M. Casadó, Kochen, Fermín, Cubarsí, Marc Guiu and H. Fort.

Recent form Valencia:

December, 2023: Getafe 1-0 Valencia

December, 2023: Arosa 0-1 Valencia

December, 2023: Girona 2-1 Valencia

November, 2023: Valencia 0-0 Celta

November, 2023: Real Madrid 5-1 Valencia

Recent form: Barcelona

December, 2023: Antwerp 3-2 Barcelona 

December, 2023: Barcelona 2-4 Girona

December, 2023: Barcelona 1-0 Atletico Madrid

November, 2023: Barcelona 2-1 Porto

November, 2023: Rayo 1-1 Barcelona

Valencia vs FCB: kick-off

Today's Valencia and Barcelona game will start at 3 p.m. ET / noon PT.

Hello and welcome to our live LaLiga EA Sports matchday 17 action as Valencia face FC Barcelona.