- Barcelona beaten 1-0 at Valladolid
- Third defeat in seven La Liga games
- Fausto Rossi scores only goal after 17 minutes
- Bayern Munich crush Wolfsburg 6-1 in Bundesliga
(CNN) — Barcelona’s faltering defense of the La Liga title plumbed a fresh low Saturday with a 1-0 defeat at relegation strugglers Valladolid — the third in the last seven league games.
No matter that Barca enjoyed 80 per cent of the possession, the only statistic that mattered was a 17th minute strike from Italian Fausto Rossi.
Arch-rivals Real Madrid can move four points clear of Barca with a home victory over Levante Sunday.
Atletico Madrid faced Celta Vigo later Saturday looking for a win to leapfrog the champions in an exciting three-way title race in Spain.
But Barcelona will be ruing the missed opportunity to keep the pressure on leaders Real, despite boss Gerardo Martino fielding a strong team after the international break.
Read: Barca stalwart Puyol to leave Nou Camp
Lionel Messi was kept off the score sheet by excellent saves from home keeper Diego Marino and he was forced into action by the Argentina ace before the only goal of the match.
Rossi fired home from close range past Victor Valdes after indecision in the Barcelona defense.
Messi had to more efforts saved by halftime but after the break it was Neymar who missed Barca’s best chance, blazing over from close range after being set up by Cesc Fabregas.
The home side held out comfortably enough and might have added to their tally when Oscar spurned a fine chance.
But they were left to celebrate a famous victory to move out of the relegation zone.
Barcelona will have to regroup ahead of the visit of Manchester City Tuesday in the Champions League, but lead 2-0 from the first leg in the last 16 tie.
The Catalan giants suffered a stinging 6-0 aggregate defeat to eventual winners Bayern Munich in the semifinals of last year’s competition but had been in impeccable form under Martino until recent domestic setbacks.
Meanwhile free-scoring Bayern have continued their all-conquering form, thrashing fifth-placed Wolfsburg 6-1 in the Bundesliga Saturday, despite the match being tied 1-1 at halftime.
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