La Liga: Are Valencia really title contenders?

Marcelino's transformed side are able to learn on the fly, as well as profiting from the odd lucky break - which makes them dangerous, says Andy Brassell

They had their stroke of luck - not once but twice, firstly as Neto let Lionel Messi's shot slip through his grasp and recovered, and then as referee Iglesias Villanueva and his assistant failed to notice that the ball had been comfortably over the goalline despite the goalkeeper's recovery. Yet Valencia survived, took a point from Barcelona and remain unbeaten, just four points behind Ernesto Valverde's side.

Valencia make the most of their break

It brought an end to a phenomenal run of nine straight wins for Marcelino's team (eight of those coming in La Liga), but they had every right to feel pleased with themselves on Monday morning. After a good start befitting their confident fettle, Los Che were beginning to be pummelled in the closing section of the first half. If the less-than-eagle-eyed Villanueva and his assistants had been up to the task - and it really was one of those that was apparent to the naked eye, much like the Jordi Alba 'goal' that went unrecognised for Barça at Betis back in January - then the evening could have unfolded very differently.

Valencia made the most of their fortune, though. They attacked the game with a renewed vigour after the interval, and Rodrigo's opener - nicely created by Gonçalo Guedes and José Gaya - was reward for their increased enterprise and confidence. There was no shame in conceding the equaliser that they did, sublimely crafted by Messi and finished by Alba, and they still fought to try and win the game after that.

A team that is growing in strength

On paper, some will point to the comparison between this game and Barça's other brushwith La Liga defeat this season, away at Atlético - ceding possession, playing aggressively and on the break, taking the lead and losing a late-ish leveller. Yet the intent of Valencia here was quite different. While Atleti lost momentum in that October match with defensive substitutions, Marcelino and his team grew stronger as the game went on.

If there was a persuasive case for Valencia keeping a challenge at the top going, then this would be it. Sunday night's game was a snapshot of their season, as they work out their strengths better as time goes on. So many of these players - Simone Zaza, Guedes, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Rodrigo - have something to prove and that is evident in their tenacity and commitment to the cause.

Atleti still one to watch

One does wonder, though, how close to their maximum they are operating. As stands, Valencia are the third favourites for La Liga on the Exchange at 24.00. That's shorter than Atlético at 26.00, despite the fact that Simeone's men remain unbeaten themselves, despite a host of problems, and can look forward to integrating elite recruits in Diego Costaand Vitolo in January. Barça are clear favourites, at 1.32.

Marcelino will also have to do without Guedes for the next three or four weeks, after he was diagnosed with a stress fracture of the toe following Sunday's game, and the Portuguese will be badly missed, having directed Valencia's attacking play all season. If there is a silver lining, it's that they have got a fair few tough fixtures out the way already, and sixth-placed near-neighbours Villarreal are the highest-ranked team on the fixture list to the turn of the year.

Their priority should still be a top-four finish, which is eminently achievable given the inconsistencies of competitors like Sevilla and Villarreal. Don't write this exciting young team off, though, to carry on chasing. Their belief in themselves has become as strong as their luck was in that first-half escape on Sunday night.