Barca Held at Valencia

New Valencia coach Gary Neville watched on from the stands as Santi Mina's late equaliser handed his side a shock 1-1 draw at home to European champions Barcelona.

Luis Suarez had put the visitors into a controversial lead as he appeared to be offside before slotting in at the near post, but Valencia's work rate was rewarded when Mina fired into the top corner five minutes from time.

Real Madrid are now just four points behind Barca as they bounced back from their embarrassing elimination from the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player in midweek with Karim Benzema, 

Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo all on target in their 4-1 thrashing of Getafe.

However, Real remain third, two points behind Atletico Madrid, after goals from Diego Godin and Antoine Griezmann handed Diego Simeone's men a 2-0 win at Granada.

Neville doesn't officially take charge until Sunday, leaving Valencia in the hands of caretaker boss Voro and his brother Phil Neville and the depleted hosts put up a brave fight against the superior quality of the European champions.

Barcelona should have had the game wrapped up by half-time, but the star front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Suarez were uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal.

At the Bernabeu, any sign of the fans' frustration at the club's latest gaffe in being eliminated from the Cup due to an administrative error was eased when Benzema fired home from Pepe's fine cross after just five minutes.

That was the Frenchman's first goal since being charged in a blackmail scandal involving international teammate Mathieu Valbuena.

And he looked back to his best as he doubled Madrid's advantage on 16 minutes when he slotted into the bottom corner from Bale's headed cut-back after Ronaldo appeared to have been fouled inside the area.

The one-way traffic continued as Bale showed great composure to finish from

Ronaldo's knockdown and score for a second consecutive league game for the

first time since January.

Ronaldo finally got in on the act three minutes later at the end of a

devastating counter-attack as he latched onto Toni Kroos's fine through ball to

register his 17th goal of the season.

Atletico remained in front of their city rivals thanks to another solid display as they recorded their sixth clean sheet in seven games to extend their winning run in all competitions to six games.

Godin powered home the opener from Koke's corner after 20 minutes to give the visitors the perfect start.

Griezmann made the game safe in spectacular fashion 14 minutes from time as the French international blasted high into the roof of the net from Oliver Torres's clever through ball.

10:17 PM