Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with Valencia in Saturday night's entertaining La Liga contest at Camp Nou.

Goals from Kevin Gameiro and Dani Parejo had sent Valencia 2-0 ahead in Catalonia, but Messi netted once in either half to ensure that Barcelona would take a point from the clash.

The result means that Barcelona have moved six points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid at the top of the table, while Valencia have returned to seventh ahead of Real Sociedad.

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Valencia had two golden chances to make the breakthrough in the first three minutes, but Parejo saw his close-range effort saved by Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, before Denis Cheryshev smashed the rebound off the post.

The immediate response from Barcelona was strong, with Messi and Philippe Coutinho only denied by last-ditch challenges after driving into dangerous positions, while the former also had a free kick saved by Neto in the eighth minute.

The match was end-to-end in the first 10 minutes and Valencia had another opportunity when Daniel Wass provided a smart pass for Parejo inside the Barcelona box, but the Spaniard's effort was too high.

Messi then curled just wide of the Valencia post before Coutinho and Sergi Roberto both tested Los Che stopper Neto as opportunities continued to arrive with the match barely 17 minutes old.

Valencia took the lead in the 24th minute, however, when a quick counter-attack ended with Rodrigo Moreno feeding Gameiro and the Frenchman expertly found the bottom corner of the net.

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Barcelona almost levelled in the 27th minute when Los Che defender Ezequiel Garay sent a Coutinho cross towards his own goal, but Neto was on hand to make an excellent save.

Camp Nou was silenced once again in the 31st minute, however, when Roberto conceded a penalty for bundling into the back of Wass. Parejo stepped forward for Valencia and the midfielder smashed the ball past Ter Stegen to send the away side two goals to the good.

Barcelona had a penalty of their own in the 38th minute though, with Nelson Semedo going down under a challenge from Toni Lato. The contact was minimal and Messi actually curled into the back of the net seconds later, but the referee had already blown for a foul.

Messi stepped forward to take the spot kick and the Argentine placed the ball into the bottom corner to make it 2-1 approaching the end of the first period.

Barcelona might have levelled in the 44th minute when Roberto struck a powerful attempt towards the bottom corner, but the post came to Valencia's rescue, before Messi volleyed an Ivan Rakitic pass over the crossbar in the final action of what was an incredible first half of football in Catalonia.

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Neto made a terrific save to keep out a curling Messi effort early in the second period, before Luis Suarez had a goal-bound shot blocked in the 49th minute during a period of intense pressure from the home side.

Neto had to make another wonderful stop to keep out a long-range Alena strike in the 53rd minute as Barcelona continued to work the ball into shooting positions at Camp Nou.

Alena then saw a cross deflected onto the Valencia post two minutes later, with Barcelona determined to work the space in the wide positions, which was plentiful due to the away side's shape.

Valencia had a golden chance to score a third on the break when Rodrigo broke into a one-on-one situation with Ter Stegen, but the goalkeeper made a smart save, before Gabriel Paulista headed the resulting corner just over the crossbar.

Rodrigo had another chance in the 63rd minute, but he turned a Cheryshev cross just wide of the post as Los Che passed up the opportunity to open up a two-goal advantage once again.

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Barcelona made Valencia pay for their missed chances in the 64th minute and it was not a surprise that the home side's equaliser came from Messi, who curled one into the bottom corner from distance.

There was some concern over Messi five minutes later when the Argentine appeared to suffer a blow to his thigh, which required some treatment on the touchline, but he did eventually return to the field.

Rodrigo tested Ter Stegen from distance 10 minutes from time, but that proved to be the striker's final piece of action as Santi Mina became Valencia's third substitute on Saturday night.

Luis Suarez had a shot deflected just wide of the post in the 85th minute as the champions looked for a dramatic winner, but the points were shared as Barcelona failed to win in the league for the first time since the end of November.

Next up for Barcelona is the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at home to Real Madrid on Wednesday night, while Valencia will travel to Real Betis for the first leg of their last-four clash in the same competition.

BARCELONA (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Semedo (Alba 46'), Pique, Vermaelen, Roberto; Alena (Arthur 66'), Vidal, Rakitic; Coutinho (Malcom 84'), L Suarez, Messi

VALENCIA (4-4-2): Neto; Piccini, Garay, Paulista, Lato; Wass, Coquelin (Kondogbia 72'), Parejo, Cheryshev; Gameiro (Torres 41'), Rodrigo (Mina 79')