THE CATALANS

Liga matches.

“The team are showing that is isn’t a distraction,” said Valverde.

“People come to the Nou Camp to express themselves peacefully and support their team. We play for them.”

The hosts could have scored three times in the opening 10 minutes as Clement Lenglet cleared off the line from Sergio Busquets, David Soria denied Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic fired a long-range effort inches wide.

Alcacer was the surprise choice in Valverde’s starting line-up and he opened the scoring on his first league start since the first day of the season.

“You have to take the chance given to you by the coach,” Alcacer told BeIN Sports Spain.

“More than my game you have to look at it from a team perspective and these games where you are made to suffer mean more.”

On his 600th Barca appearance, Lionel Messi had the chance to make the game safe when his low effort was saved by Soria, but Barca held on to move 11 points clear of Real Madrid.

Barca travel to Valencia on Nov 26 and Los Che remain their closest challengers, four points back, as they swept aside Leganes 3-0 for a club record seventh straight league win.

“No one will go undefeated through 38 games, but we are going to enjoy the moment,” said Valencia coach Marcelino Garcia Toral.

By contrast, Atletico Madrid’s struggle for goals continues but Diego Simeone’s men were bailed out by Thomas Partey’s 91stminute winner in a 1-0 victory at Deportivo la Coruna. AFP