Lionel Messi lastly broke his scoring drought to achieve his 500th skilled aim, but that non-public achievement was overshadowed
by one other poor Barcelona show as they went down 2-1 to Valencia.
The Catalans knew they might not afford to drop points again after previous defeats at the hands of Real Madrid and Real Sociedad - with Atletico Madrid transferring level on factors earlier on Sunday following their win over Granada - and created numerous likelihood to open the scoring within the opening stages of the game.
Luis Suarez, Messi and Neymar all failed to beat the excelling Diego Alves, though, as the Valencia goalkeeper pulled off a string of superb saves.
An personal objective from Ivan Rakitic then saw Valencia take a shock lead, before Santi Mina doubled the visitors' lead together with his fourth league objective of the season.
Messi finally got his milestone objective after the break to end his barren run, but it was not sufficient to salvage a draw as Valencia held firm.
This weekend's results mean Barcelona are level on 76 factors with Atletico, whereas third-placed Actual Madrid have moved to within just one point as the title race hots up.
Barcelona dominated proceedings right from the start and created a number of probabilities to go a purpose ahead.
Suarez volleyed over the crossbar in the fourth minute after being set up by Messi, earlier than the Argentina worldwide was denied from close range by Diego Alves simply minutes later following some good work from the ex-Liverpool striker.
Neymar then failed to elevate the ball over the Valencia goalkeeper in the twelfth minute after being sent through one-on-one by a brilliant cross from Messi.
Suarez and Messi failed to convert additional chances and the visitors made them pay in the twenty sixth minute, Guilherme Siqueira's dangerous cross from the left clipping Rakitic's boot on its well past Claudio Bravo.
And Valencia doubled their lead just earlier than the break by means of Mina. Dani Parejo set up the 20-12 months-old with a clever throughball to expose Sergi Roberto down the correct and he beat Bravo with a composed finish.
Rakitic may have pulled one back early in the second half after an clever ball from Suarez, just for the midfielder to mishit his shot and hearth wide.
Messi at last got his aim shortly after the hour mark to present Barcelona hope once more, tapping home from close vary after a low cross from Jordi Alba from the left.
Diego Alves confirmed his class again with 20 minutes left on the clock, holding out Neymar's left-footed shot from inside the area.
The Valencia goalkeeper continued to frustrate Barcelona, pulling off a superb reflex to stop Rakitic from making amends for his first-half personal goal.
Neymar might have salvaged a draw with a late likelihood, but the Brazilian's shot bounced broad after taking a deflection, earlier than Gerard Pique missed a sitter in the 90th minute as Valencia held out for a tough-fought win.
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