The defending champion couldn't take advantage of the opportunity, though, losing 1-0 Wednesday to a Levante team that came into the match with only one league win the entire season.
Levante had jumped out to an early 2-0 lead through goals from Jose Campana and Roger in the 21st and 24th minutes to give the team hope of securing its first win of the season before Valencia came roaring back.
Wearing the No. 10 jersey that used to belong to Lionel Messi, Ansu Fati made a triumphant return from a long injury layoff on Sunday, scoring a goal in 3-0 win over Levante.
Real Madrid couldn't overcome a Levante side that was forced to finish the match with a defender as their goalkeeper.
Alavés, which faces Celta Vigo at home on Sunday, dropped to bottom in the 20-team standings.
Athletic entered this year's semifinals as the favorite against Levante, having already won the Spanish Super Cup in a final against Barcelona after defeating Real Madrid in the semis.
Madrid giants lost 2-1 at home to Levante in a match that the defending champions played with 10 men from the eighth minute when defender Eder Militao was sent off.
Messi fired a left-footed shot off the far post and into the net to get Barcelona’s breakthrough in the 76th minute after Levante had withstood the hosts with tenacious defending.
For a second straight game, Vinícius once again led his team in attack by scoring in the first half.
Luuk de Jong put Sevilla ahead a few seconds into the second half but a fluke play near the end gave the host the draw as a croSevillass partially saved by goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik ricocheted off Diego Carlos and went into their own net.
Barcelona routed Eibar 5-0 at the Camp Nou and will enter next weekend's clásico against Madrid with a two-point lead at the top of the standings.
Fati struck from a pair of passes by Lionel Messi to help Barcelona beat Levante 2-1, keeping the defending champion within three points of leader Real Madrid.
Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, and Sevilla can all move past Barcelona if they win later Saturday. Granada can also jump ahead of the defending champions on Sunday.
Live Match Streaming, Levante vs Barcelona, La Liga: Find full details on when and where to watch LEV vs BAR Live on Facebook.
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