The Short Version
Robert Lewandowski marked his final Barcelona appearance with a goal, but the champions finished with a defeat after Valencia struck twice in quick succession during the second half.
The veteran Polish striker put Barcelona ahead just after the hour mark, converting a goal that needed both awareness and positioning. Ferran Torres' volley was heading wide before Lewandowski diverted it goalwards for his 119th Barcelona goal in four season s with the club.
That is usually how club statements work: the wording stays calm while the room clearly has not.
But the lead lasted barely five minutes. Javi Guerra levelled with a neat finish on the edge of the box, and with in four minutes Valencia were ahead. After neat work from Jesús Vázquez, Guerra's shot was charged down but the ball fell for Luis Rioja who fired a left-footed shot beyond Wojciesch Szczesny.
The Useful Context
The hosts added a third deep into stoppage time when Guido Rodríguez found the net from outside the box. Valencia held on for the three points, but Getafe's win over Osasuna and Rayo Vallecano's victory at Alaveskept the m out of the European places.
The match had begun with Valencia looking the sharper side. Hugo Duro, Rioja and Unai Núñez all had early chances before Diego López fired wide, while Ronald Araújo produced a crucial block to deny López again late in the first half. Alejandro Balde fired into the side netting for Barcelona, who went closest when Lewandowski headed against an upright just before halftime.
Valencia suffered a worrying moment early in the second half when Diego López was forced off with a suspected knee injury. That proved costly as the hosts later fell behind.
The Part Still Unclear
A VAR check denied Valencia a penalty when Marc Bernal brought down Vázquez just outside the box, though the home side's third goal eventually sealed the result.