Barcelona's season finale at the Mestalla was always going to be a curious affair. With little left to play for beyond pride and a final chance to sig...
Barcelona's season finale at the Mestalla was always going to be a curious affair. With little left to play for beyond pride and a final chance to sign off on a positive note, Xavi's side produced a performance that was, for large parts, as flat as their league campaign. Yet, for a fleeting moment, there was a flash of the clinical edge that had been missing for so much of the term.Robert Lewandowski, making what is widely expected to be his final Barcelona appearance, broke the deadlock on the hour mark. It was a goal born of patience and a rare moment of incision. The Polish striker, who has often cut a frustrated figure this season, showed all his predatory instincts to convert and give the visitors a lead they scarcely deserved based on the balance of play. For a few minutes, the travelling support dared to dream of a parting victory.But the Mestalla is a cauldron that punishes complacency, and Valencia, chasing a European berth, have a pulse that simply won't quit. They responded with the kind of ferocity that has defined their resurgence under Rubén Baraja. Within minutes, the lead was wiped out. It was a familiar story for Barcelona, a team that has struggled to manage games and protect advantages. Their defensive fragility was exposed, and Los Che capitalised with a swift, decisive move. The game, which had been a low block masterclass from Valencia in the first half, suddenly opened up into a frantic, transitional scrap. Questions will be asked of Barcelona's mentality yet again. How can a team with that much quality simply collapse after scoring It is a symptom of a deeper malaise, a lack of leadership and tactical flexibility that has plagued them all season. For Valencia, this point keeps the pressure on those above them. For Barcelona, it merely confirms a long list of issues that must be addressed in the summer.
