BARCELONA

Barcelona defeat to Valencia

BY PEACE NEWS REPORTER

(PEACE NEWS)Barcelona's season is unraveling in astonishing style with a third straight La Liga defeat Sunday at home to Valencia leaving its title defense hanging by a thread.

A little over a fortnight ago, the Catalan giant had a nine-point lead and was also favorite to defend its Champions League crown, but a sudden loss of form has changed all that.

Valencia's 2-1 win is a complete reversal of the result the last two times the side's met in the Nou Camp, Barcelona winning 7-0 in the Spanish Cup.

It was one of a series of setbacks which led to the sacking of English coach Gary Neville, but despite a recent improvement, few were expecting Valencia to offer much resistance in the latest meeting.

But after soaking up some intense early pressure, it was Ivan Rakitic's deflected own goal and a Santi Mina strike just before halftime that set the visitor on its way to an unlikely three points.