Lionel Messi scored one penalty and missed another as Barcelona ended their three-match winless run in all competitions with a narrow 1-0 victory over Real Valladolid on Saturday evening.
The Argentina international converted from the spot 43 minutes in after Gerard Pique was brought down in the box for what proved to be the game's decisive moment.
Barca, held by Athletic Bilbao and Valencia in their last two league outings, as well as Real Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi, could have added a second late on but Messi failed to convert from 12 yards against inspired Valladolid keeper Jordi Masip.
Victory for the champions moves them seven points clear at the top of La Liga ahead of Real Madrid's game in hand against Girona on Sunday morning.
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Kevin-Prince Boateng was brought in by Ernesto Valverde in one of five changes from the goalless draw with Athletic Bilbao, and the January signing nearly made a big impression on his league bow.
After holding his run to beat the offside trap, Boateng latched on to Messi's perfectly-weighted pass but could not get the better of Masip in the Valladolid goal.
That would prove to be Barca's only shot on target until the penalty was awarded towards the end of the first half, with their only other opening coming 42 minutes in when Messi had a shot blocked on the edge of the box and sent the rebound inches wide of the post.
Valladolid, who headed into the contest with just one win in eight matches to their name, squandered a glorious chance to take a shock lead at Camp Nou as Nacho failed to pick out a teammate when given time and space in the box.
Barcelona hit their opponents on the counter and Pique was brought down by Michel just before he could pull the trigger, giving Messi the chance to tuck the ball into the bottom-right corner from the penalty spot.
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Valverde's side came close to doubling their tally early in the second half as Messi had one shot tipped over the bar by Masip and then sent another wide from a good position following a heavy first touch.
Boateng had a good opportunity to open his account before being subbed on the hour, only to take the ball too wide when attempting to round former Barca keeper Masip.
Valladolid gave as good as they got in the remaining half-hour of the match, but they left gaps open at the back which substitute Luis Suarez could not profit from.
Suarez was then denied by Masip from a one-on-one position and Messi could not quite pick out the bottom corner from the follow-up attempt.
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The Uruguayan striker was then caught in two minds when miscuing his first-time pass at the back post when he could easily have volleyed goalwards from five yards.
Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Rakitic were also brought off the bench by Valverde, who knew the importance of avoiding a fourth match without victory in all competitions.
The points could have been sealed with five minutes to spare, but Messi was unable to convert from the penalty spot for a second time after Keko tripped Coutinho in the box, going the same way as his first effort but meeting his match in Masip.
Messi's next shot from 20 yards drifted wide of the target and Suarez was guilty of missing another glorious opportunity in the final throes, but the hosts' poor finishing mattered little in the end as they claimed all three points.
BARCELONA (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Vermaelen, Alba; Vidal, Busquets, Alena (Rakitic 76'); Messi, Boateng (Suarez 60'), Dembele (Coutinho 70')
REAL VALLADOLID (3-4-3): Masip; Olivas, Joaquin, Calero; Antonito, Anuar, Michel, Nacho; Unal (Keko 79'), Verde (Villa 67; Plaza, 76'), Guardiola
Daniel Lewis
