article_snippet.sent: Valencia enjoyed a better first half, despite the scoreline and captain Dani Parejo missed a penalty in the ninth minute .
article_snippet.sent: The victory sees Luis Enrique side move five points away from Real Madrid, who take on Malaga later on Saturday .
article_snippet.sent: Far from being shell-shocked by the early set-back Valencia unleashed the big guns and Barcelona were under-fire for the rest of the first half.
article_snippet.sent: With a full Camp Nou sensing that a win here would be a huge step towards the title for Barcelona, and Valencia in a scrap of their own to finish in the top four the game was being played at cup final pace.
article_snippet.sent: Adding to the drama was the panic in Barcelona’s defence.
article_snippet.sent: Barcelona have a five-point lead over Madrid, who could cut the deficit to two points with victory over Malaga .
article_snippet.sent: Valencia gave Barcelona more problems than any visiting side at the Nou Camp this season.
article_snippet.sent: But Valencia had worn the horns in the first half and Barcelona were relieved to get down the tunnel at half time still in one piece and still 1-0 up.
article_snippet.sent: The second half brought more calm to a Barcelona defence that now had Mascherano back alongside Pique after Pique first half spent in midfield.
article_snippet.sent: Valencia carried less threat and Barca went close with Neymar heading wide and Messi hitting the bar with a free-kick.