Messi secures tie for Barcelona against Valencia

Lionel Messi scored a goal to help salvage a tie against a pesky Valencia side.

Manuel Barr/ZumaPress.com

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) ? Lionel Messi extended his record streak by scoring in his 12th consecutive Spanish league game to give leader Barcelona a 1-1 draw at Valencia on Sunday.

Midfielder Ever Banega struck first for Valencia in the 33rd, only for Messi to level for the visitors from the penalty spot six minutes later.

Former Valencia star David Villa had Barcelona's best chance late but failed to finish on the break before goalkeeper Victor Valdes made an excellent save to deny Roberto Soldado two minutes from time and ensure a point for each side.

Barcelona leads main rival Real Madrid by 16 points after the defending champions' 1-0 loss at Granada the day before from Cristiano Ronaldo's first career own goal.

Atletico Madrid is second, trailing Barcelona by 12 points ahead of its game against Real Betis later.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Malaga was held to a 1-1 home draw by Real Zaragoza in the return of forward Julio Baptista after a 16-month layoff with a broken right foot, while Sevilla beat visiting Rayo Vallecano 2-1 as it continued to show improvement under new coach Unai Emery.

Barcelona was coached by assistant Jordi Roura with manager Tito Vilanova reportedly back in New York for further treatment after throat surgery to remove a tumor.

Roura only made one change in the starting 11 from Wednesday's 1-1 draw at Madrid in the Copa del Rey, with Javier Mascherano replacing Carles Puyol in defense.

The lack of fresh legs gave the better rested Valencia the advantage early on.

Valencia pressed Barcelona high up the pitch from the start, and succeeded in deactivating its passing attack for the most part until Banega put the hosts in front.

Valencia was peppering Barcelona's area with high balls when Gerard Pique's clearance fell to Banega unmarked in the box for him to fire low into the net to take the opener.

Messi had his part in provoking the equalizing penalty when he dribbled forward and passed to Pedro Rodriguez, who was subsequently bulled over by Joao Pereira inside the area.

Messie blasted the spot kick into the upper corner to take his league-leading tally to 34 goals in 22 rounds this season. The four-time world player of the year has 45 goals in all competitions.

Best known for his goal scoring feats, Messi displayed his playmaking abilities 10 minutes after halftime when he placed a perfectly weighted pass between five defenders to reach the streaking Cesc Fabregas, who could do no better than fire into the side netting.

Valencia reclaimed the initiative thanks to its defensive effort which led to Soldado coming close three times before substitute Sergio Canales forced Valdes into a diving parry to push his shot beyond the post.

Roura sent on Villa for Fabregas with just under 20 minutes left, and the little-used Spain striker shot wide from an angle to squander Barcelona's single counterattack in the 77th.

Soldado had his best opportunity to grab the three points in the final stretch of the game when Pique lost possession, but Valdes sprung to smother his close-range try.

Later, Mallorca is at Real Sociedad.

On Saturday, Osasuna edged out Celta Vigo 1-0, Getafe defeated Deportivo La Coruna 3-1, and Espanyol held on to beat Levante 3-2. Athletic Bilbao drew 2-2 at Valladolid on Friday.