体坛英语新闻：Barca's luck holds to keep them top of the table

MADRID, April 18 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona weathered a first half storm at home to Valencia to claim a 2-0 win and three vital points to assure they remain top of the BBVA Primera Liga table.

Goals from Luis Suarez and Leo Messi gave Barca the win in a game which saw them ride their luck, especially in the first half when their rivals had enough chances to have turned the title race on its head.

Barcelona kicked off knowing anything other than a win would allow Real Madrid, whose game at home to Malaga kicks off two hours later, the chance to overtake them at the top of the table and opened the scoring within the first minute as Luis Suarez was on hand to finish a counter-attack involving Sergio Busquets and Leo Messi.

However, anyone thinking that would open the floodgates for Barca would have been sorely mistaken as Valencia reacted brilliantly and took the game to the league leaders with an exceptional 45 minutes football.

The visitors pressured Barca high up the field and were rewarded for their efforts as they forced error after error from the Barca rearguard. Rodrigo twice went close and Sophaine Feghouli was only denied by the offside flag before Gerard Pique committed a penalty against Rodrigo following a throw in.

The usually reliable Dani Parejo stepped up and saw his weak shot saved by Claudio Bravo and Barca could breathe again, but not for long as Paco Alcacer saw his close range effort blocked after Pique again surrendered possession and the Valencia striker was only denied by the woodwork as he worked space after the half hour.

Barca were struggling to create anything, but Messi should have doubled their lead in what was only their second attack of the half as he fired wide from Xavi's knockdown five minutes from the break.

Luis Enrique had to react and the Barca coach decided to reshuffle his side with Ivan Rakitic replacing Adriano, allowing Javier Mascherano to drop back into central defense and Mathieu moving to left back.

Rakitic's presence and Valencia's evident tiredness after their first half efforts ensured no repeat of the first period and their efforts after the break were limited to a Rodrigo shot which Bravo dealt with.

Messi hit the Valencia crossbar with a free kick and with Barca in control he sealed the points with the last kick of the game, breaking from his own half to beat Diego Alves at the second attempt.