Valencia takes unexpected 2-goal lead at Barcelona's Camp Nou

Of all the teams to shock Barcelona, Valencia looked the least likely.

Hanging precariously close to the drop zone, Los Che dropped out of both domestic and European competitions and fired Gary Neville as manager. A 7-0 loss to Barcelona in February, in fact, ended all hope in the Copa del Rey.

But Valencia surged to a 2-0 halftime lead Sunday at Camp Nou, jumping on a vulnerable Barcelona side that crashed out of the Champions League earlier in the week.

An own goal by Ivan Rakitic gave the visitors a fortunate opener, but a well-placed shot by Santi Mina doubled the advantage and put a significant dent in the Blaugrana's La Liga title aspirations.

Lionel Messi scored his 500th career goal to give Barcelona hope, but it couldn't reverse the damage.