Lionel Messi scored in his 12th consecutive La Liga game to help leaders Barcelona earn a 1-1 draw at Valencia, allowing second-placed Atletico Madrid to close to within nine points after a 1-0 win over Real Betis on Sunday.
World Player of the Year Messi grabbed his 34th league goal from the penalty spot just before halftime at the Mestalla after Ever Banega had given the livelier hosts a 33rd-minute lead.
Atletico substitute Diego Costa nodded in from a 61st-minute corner to maintain their perfect home record, lifting them seven points clear of city rivals Real Madrid in third.
Barca have 59 points from 22 games, Atletico 50, and the champions have 43 after losing 1-0 at lowly Granada on Saturday when Cristiano Ronaldo headed the game's only goal into his own net.
Valencia's intense pressure seemed to unsettle Barca, who looked sluggish after Wednesday's King's Cup semi-final first leg at the Bernabeu, which they drew 1-1.
Their aggression paid dividends when Gerard Pique's weak headed clearance fell to Banega in the area and the Argentine midfielder fired a low shot under Valdes.
“It's possible we were suffering a bit from the Madrid game, but I would point out the work of our rival,” Barca assistant coach Jordi Roura said.
“In five years, we have only won once here. A draw is a fair result.”
Barca levelled before the break when Joao Pereira needlessly fouled Pedro in the area and Messi arrowed a penalty high into the top corner.
Cesc Fabregas went close and Andres Guardado forced a flying save from Valdes but Barca were in the ascendancy.
Substitute David Villa fired just wide of the post, but Pique was caught in possession in the last minute and Ali Cissokho crossed, forcing Valdes into a superb double-save to keep the scores level.
Atletico had leading scorer Radamel Falcao back from injury but it was combative striker Costa who scored from close range in a bruising encounter against Betis.
RUTHLESSLY EFFICIENT
Another ruthlessly efficient performance ensured Diego Simeone's side made it 12 wins from 12 in the league at the Calderon with only six goals conceded.
Earlier, fourth-placed Malaga failed to make the most of Real's slip-up when they could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Real Zaragoza to move on to 36 points.
They had to come from behind after Helder Postiga's 13th-minute volley put the visitors ahead at a sun-drenched Rosaleda.
Young playmaker Isco, who agreed an improved contract with the south-coast club during the week, levelled from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute and both sides hit the woodwork.
Manuel Pellegrini's side never really had complete control of the game, and there was no fairytale return for Brazilian forward Julio Baptista, who came on as a second-half substitute after some 15 months on the sidelines with injury.
Zaragoza had midfielder Jose Mari sent off for a second bookable offence near the end.
Rayo Vallecano also failed to close on the top sides when they lost 2-1 at improving King's Cup semi-finalists Sevilla.
Ivan Rakitic, who was later sent off, lobbed their opener from 35 yards out and Alvaro Negredo backheeled a cheeky second after Rayo had levelled from the penalty spot.
Betis are fifth with 35 points, Valencia sixth on 34, the same as seventh-placed Rayo, and Real Sociedad are eighth with 33 after a 3-0 home win over 10-man Real Mallorca.
Photograph: Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images
