Real Valladolid shocked Barcelona in their La Liga clash as a strike from Fausto Rossi handed them victory over the Catalan side, who missed the chance to overtake Real Madrid at the top of the table.
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Gerardo Martino's side threatened early on as Lionel Messi raided down the right and cut onto his left foot and drove an effort at goal, but Diego Marino was equal to the shot and palmed the ball away.
Valladolid responded to the chance from the visitors and Gerard Pique had to be alert to stop a through-ball from Alvaro Rubio falling into the path Javi Guerra, as the defender made an intervention to divert the ball away from the striker.
However, the home side did take the lead when a loose ball in the penalty area wasn't cleared by the Barcelona defence and Rossi made no mistake slotting his effort past Victor Valdes from close range.
After the break, Martino's side pressed immediately to get back into the game and Adriano picked up a loose ball just outside of the penalty area and fired at goal, but his effort sailed well over the bar.
Minutes later, Messi weaved his way in and out of defenders before shooting with a low shot but he was denied for the second time of the game by Marino, who got down low to his left to make the stop.
Valdes almost handed Guerra a chance to get his side's second of the game, as the keeper's clearance fell straight into his path, but the striker couldn't control the ball as he tried to bear down on goal.
Barcelona tried to press late on to get an equaliser but were growing frustrated with their lack of success as Messi fired two efforts straight at Marino from free kicks, which is the closest Martino's side came to finding a goal.
Valladolid held out for the win despite a late attacking surge from the visitors, to secure three vital points in their fight against the drop.
Simon Sinclair
