Messi climbs to meet Adriano's cross and sends a header from the center of the box just over the bar. It’s an early aerial chance that flashes too high.

Meeting Dani Alves’ cross, Messi directs a header from the center of the box toward the bottom right corner, but Diego Alves stretches to save. A well-placed effort is denied by the Valencia goalkeeper.

From outside the box, Messi unleashes a left-footed shot that is blocked by the Valencia defense, continuing his intense early pressure. The effort comes immediately before the corner that leads to the opening goal.

After a corner routine, Messi lays the ball to Adriano, who rifles a right-footed shot from outside the box into the top right corner to make it 1–0 for Barcelona.

Messi threads a precise through ball into the box for Cesc Fàbregas, whose right-footed shot from the center of the area strikes the left post and stays out. His vision slices open Valencia but the move is inches from a second goal.

Cutting in from outside the box, Messi fires a left-footed shot that is blocked by a defender, preventing a clear sight of goal late in the match.

Inside the box, Messi latches onto Andrés Iniesta’s pass and strikes with his left foot from the center of the area, but his shot is blocked by the crowded Valencia defense.