Afternoon all! Sports Mole's live La Liga commentary continues from the Camp Nou as Barcelona welcome Valencia in the game of the weekend in Spain. Barca will be looking to stretch their lead at the top of the table to five points, but it will not be easy against a Valencia team that are enjoying a fine campaign.

First and foremost, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news.

So there we have it. Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has recalled Claudio Bravo, Dani Alves, Jeremy Mathieu, Adriano and Xavi to his XI this afternoon, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Martin Montoya, Jordi Alba, Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta all dropping out. It is the same front three, however, with Neymar joining Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in the final third. Javier Mascherano will move into a midfield role.

Valencia boss Nuno, meanwhile, has been able to recall key centre-back Nicolas Otamendi following a one-game suspension, but Pablo Piatti and Enzo Perez are still both out injured. Paco Alcacer is once again preferred in attack to Alvaro Negredo, while full-back Lucas Orban starts in place of Jose Gaya, who is only fit enough for the bench. It will be a 4-3-3 formation for the visitors at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona have only lost one of their last 15 league games against Valencia – winning 10 times in the process. However, that defeat took place in this stadium last season, when Los Che recorded all three points with a 3-2 win. That said, Barca were victorious when the two sides met at the Mestalla earlier this season, with a late Sergio Busquets effort seeing the visitors record a fortunate 1-0 win.

Barcelona threw away a two-goal lead at Sevilla last weekend to draw 2-2, but they are still two points clear of second-place Real Madrid at the top of the table. The Catalan outfit have not lost in the league since Malaga won at the Camp Nou on February 21, while their home form has been strong this season – winning 13 of their 15 games and scoring 52 times in the process. They also have comfortably the best defensive record in the league this season – conceding just 19 times in their 31 games to date.

Luis Enrique's side will also enter the match off the back of a 3-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in Paris. That result has placed them in a strong position ahead of next week's second leg, while they have the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao to come next month. Barca are very much on course for a treble this term. Can they achieve it?

Valencia, meanwhile, currently sit fourth in the table on 65 points. They are three points clear of fifth-place Sevilla and just one behind third-place Atletico Madrid. Their last league defeat also occurred against Malaga, but since that loss (February 2), they have gone 10 games unbeaten in Spain's top flight. On Monday evening, they recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory over local rivals Levante.

Los Che's success this season has been built on strong home form, where they have lost just one of their 16 league games and won 13 times in the process. However, they are also currently unbeaten in five away games and have lost just three times on their travels all season. What's more, only once in their history have Valencia had more points (65) than at this stage of the season. That occurred in their title-winning campaign of 2003-04, when they had 66 points after 31 games. Very impressive indeed.

PREDICTION! It is really difficult to discount Valencia at the moment, but Barcelona are in such good form and should have just a bit too much for Los Che this afternoon. I expect it to be very tight for long spells, but I just think that the home side will come through in the end. Score: Barcelona 2-1 Valencia.

Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first period. It is a beautiful afternoon in Barcelona - let's hope the football matches up! It is the away side that get the action underway.

As expected, the home side have taken control of the possession in the opening minute, with each member of the back four enjoying touches of the ball. Barca will want a fast start here.

Oh my good grief! Less than one minute on the clock and Barcelona have the lead. Valencia lose the ball in the Barca half and it is Messi that drives towards the Los Che box before setting up Suarez, who finishes into the bottom corner. What an incredible start to this game from the hosts. Suarez is in fine form!

Half-chance for Valencia to respond as Rodrigo drives into the box before curling one towards the bottom corner, but his effort is just wide of the post. End-to-end opening four minutes here!

Well, this had all the makings of a good game and it has been sensational thus far. Barcelona might have taken the lead, but Valencia are really pushing forward at the moment, with both Feghouli and Rodrigo causing problems in a wide area. The next goal - if there indeed is one - will be vital.

Valencia are awarded a penalty as Pique is adjudged to hand felled Rodrigo inside the box. It was a clumsy challenge from the defender, who attempted to win the ball from a difficult angle.

SAVE! Bravo is across to save Parejo's spot kick. Poor from the Valencia captain!

Goalkeepers must be given credit for saving penalties, but that was a poor spot kick from Parejo. Valencia continue to break forward, however, and Feghouli is just caught offside once again.

The opening 13 minutes of this match have been just incredible. Valencia are behind, but they are playing the better football at the moment and have indeed missed a penalty. I would be astounded if we had seen the last of the goals in this one. Barcelona do not look comfortable at the back here.

CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Valencia to level as Parejo delivers a super cross towards the heads of Otamendi, but the Argentine heads just wide. It is all happening in the Barcelona half!

Valencia want another penalty as Adriano fouls Parejo near to the Barcelona box, but the decision is given just outside the box. The resulting free kick is eventually bundled clear by Alves at the far post.

Since opening the scoring, Barcelona have not had anything in the final third, with Valencia in complete control. Will the visitors be made to regret that missed spot kick? Still 1-0 Barca here.

CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Valencia to level as Parejo turns inside the Barca box before delivering into Alcacer, but his flicked effort is just wide of the post. Good grief what a game.

Half-chance for the home side this time as Neymar delivers a super cross towards the head of Messi, but the Argentine was always on the stretch and it goes behind. End-to-end football in Barcelona.

Valencia are forcing plenty of free kicks around the Barcelona box and the home side do not look very comfortable, especially when Otamendi makes contact inside the area. It is all-action stuff here.

CHANCE! The visitors have another chance as Parejo drives into the Barcelona box before crossing into Alcacer, but Pique manages to make the block with Bravo stranded out of position.

Barcelona manage to ease the latest spell of pressure with a period of possession, but they are struggling to create opportunities at the moment, with Valencia playing at a hundred miles an hour.

Suarez appears to have a problem for the home side as he goes down in a challenge with Orban and does not return to his feet. Finally the hosts can have a breather as they win a free kick.

BOOKING! Adriano (Barcelona) is booked for fouling Barragan in a wide position.

Once again, Parejo delivers the resulting free kick for Valencia, but Pique is across to clear the danger. Set pieces might be Los Che's best chance of a goal this afternoon, such is their power in the air. Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining and it has been a stunning end-to-end game thus far.

BOOKING! Fuego (Valencia) is booked for a late challenge on Neymar.

As it stands, Barcelona would move five points clear at the top, but Valencia will feel that there is something for them in this game. That penalty miss from Parejo could come haunt them, though.

Feghouli shows excellent feet in a wide position before curling a super pass towards Alcacer, but Pique is just across to clear at the vital moment. It would have been a clear strike on goal for the forward.

POST! Oh my word! Alcacer turns inside the Barcelona box before flashing one towards the bottom corner, but his effort hits the post. How on earth have Valencia not yet scored here!

Champions win games while they are not playing well and Barcelona will have to dig deep in this one. They are still ahead, but Valencia have been much the better side thus far. Every time the hosts break forward they appear capable of making something happen. Barca are just about holding on here.

BOOKING! Orban (Valencia) is booked for a late challenge on Busquets.

Barcelona have just managed to settle the game in the last couple of minutes, but they just are not creating chances or worrying the Valencia back four. They are one goal ahead by default here!

CHANCE! More poor defending from Barcelona contributes to another Valencia chance as Alves loses possession in a wide area. Alcacer eventually tries his luck, but his effort is too high.

CHANCE! Stunning and I mean stunning chance for Messi as the ball falls for the Argentine some five yards from goal, but he somehow fires wide of the post. He is human after all!

You just cannot take your eyes off this one at the moment as the play continues to flow from end-to-end. So much has happened, so many chances, but there has still been just the one goal here!

Adriano tries his luck for the home side after good work from Suarez, but the defender's effort was always moving wide of the crossbar. Almost time to grab a breather - the interval is imminent here.

Barcelona are pressing for a second here as Adriano wins a corner down the left, but the resulting set piece is headed clear by Otamendi. It appears that the home side will enter the break 1-0 ahead.

What a half of football! Barcelona lead 1-0, but that does not tell the whole story. The hosts took a first-minute lead courtesy of Suarez, but it has been all Valencia since then. The visitors have missed a penalty, however, in addition to hitting the post and passing up a number of clear opportunities.

STATS! Barcelona have dominated the possession with 67%, but they have only managed one attempt on target, which brought the goal. Since then, the hosts have struggled. Valencia, meanwhile, have had nine attempts - two of which have been on target. There have also been three bookings here.

BENCH WATCH! Barcelona boss Enrique has a number of attacking options on his bench this afternoon, with the likes of Jordi Alba, Rafinha, Pedro and Ivan Rakitic all in reserve. Valencia, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Rodrigo de Paul, Alvaro Negredo and fit-again full-back Jose Gaya.

Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. Surely we will have more than the one goal here? More of the same please. Barca get the second half underway!

SUBS! Barca have made one change at the break, with Rakitic replacing Adriano. Meanwhile, Valencia have introduced Gaya in place of Orban, who looked to be carrying a slight injury.

Valencia start the second period on the front foot as Rodrigo drives down the left before delivering into Alcacer, but Bravo is on hand to collect at the vital moment. Barca need to gain some control here.

Barcelona work the ball extremely well around the edge of the Valencia box before Messi slides a pass into Suarez, but the striker was ruled just offside. Valencia need to be really careful of that one.

Barcelona have just managed to gain some control in the last couple of moments, with Xavi settling the game down and spraying a number of passes into wide positions. Valencia have played very well thus far, but at the moment, they have nothing to show from it. Still plenty of football to be played here.

Possession football from the hosts at the moment, which was needed at this stage of the match.

BOOKING! Mascherano (Barcelona) is booked for a late challenge on Parejo.

Half-chance for the home side to score a second as Alves breaks down the right before clipping one into Neymar, but his header is straight into the arms of the goalkeeper. Still 1-0 to the hosts here.

Another half-chance for Barcelona as Alves picks out Messi with a wonderful cross, but the Argentine was off-balance and can only flick wide of the post. Little over 30 minutes remaining here.

Valencia are still threatening, but Barcelona have definitely improved in the last 10 minutes or so and are having more of the game in the middle of the park. The chances have also started to dry up.

Valencia's defending has been a little desperate in the last couple of moments, with Alves causing more and more problems in wide areas. Messi again finds the run of the Brazilian, but he is just crowded out at the vital moment. Both managers will surely be considering more chances at this stage of the game.

Barcelona have a free kick just outside the box as Parejo brings Messi to the ground...

... CROSSBAR! Messi takes the resulting set piece, but his effort hits the crossbar!

SUB! Barca make their second change as Pedro replaces Suarez.

Barcelona are really pressing for a second goal at the moment as they continue to work the ball into wide areas, but Valencia are holding on. Little over 20 minutes of this second period remaining here.

BOOKING! Otamendi (Valencia) is booked for fouling Alves.

SUB! Valencia make their second change as Cancelo replaces Feghouli.

Valencia were excellent in the first period, but Barcelona have had control of matters since the interval and they look the team most likely to score the game's second goal. It is so delicately poised here.

The attendance this afternoon has been confirmed at little under 93,000 and those inside the stadium have been treated to a super game here. Valencia have just started to threaten once again, but they are finding it more difficult to work the ball into the box. Both managers have one change remaining.

Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few moments, but Barcelona will feel that they have a good foot-hold in the game, which was not the case for long spells of the first 45 minutes.

SUB! Valencia make their third and final change as Negredo replaces Alcacer.

SAVE! Valencia come close to levelling as Rodrigo finds space inside the box before firing towards the bottom corner, but Bravo is on hand to make a super save. How important could that be?!

BOOKING! Rakitic (Barcelona) is booked for bringing Parejo to the ground.

Again it is excellent defending from Otamendi as the Valencia centre-back faces up to Messi and deals with the attacker in a one-on-one situation. Little over 10 minutes of football remaining here.

BOOKING! Mustafi (Valencia) is booked for blocking off Neymar.

SUB! Barca make their third change as Roberto replaces Xavi.

Barcelona continue to look the team more likely as they pass and probe in the final third, but you just get the feeling that Valencia will create one more big chance in this one. Huge final 10 minutes here.

Pedro uses his pace to drive away from the Valencia defence and eventually win a corner, but the away side manage to clear the danger once again. Is there to be some late, late drama at the Camp Nou?

Pedro is again down the right for the home side, but there are no takers on his cross as Valencia scramble clear once again. The pressure comes straight back though as Barca look for a second goal.

Valencia force the ball towards Negredo following good work from Cancelo, but Mascherano is on hand to clear at the vital moment and the home side manage to push down the field. Little over two minutes of normal time remaining and the outcome of this game is still undecided. What will occur here...

... half-chance for Pedro inside the Valencia box, but Alves is across to deny the Spaniard.

The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional three minutes at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona are in control of the possession at the moment and time is running out for Valencia, who played so well in the first period, but have struggled in the second. Not long remaining here.

BOOKING! Bravo (Barcelona) is booked for time-wasting.

Gaya fells Neymar and Barcelona have a free kick in the Valencia half.

Barcelona have their second of the game as Messi runs through all alone after Valencia had committed players forward. The Argentine is first denied by Alves, but he rolls the rebound home.

So there we have it. Barcelona move five points clear at the top of La Liga with a 2-0 win over Valencia. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Good evening!