FC Barcelona only narrowly wins against Real Valladolid: "Bit slow and tired"

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Lionel Messi: "We have to shift up a gear"

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PAU BARRENA / AFP

FC Barcelona have won their 17th league game in series against Real Valladolid 1-0 (0-0), against the relegation-threatened table-16.

but difficult for a long time.

It was only after Ousmane Dembélé's late winning goal (90th) that Barcelona ousted arch-rivals Real Madrid (63) from second place with 65 points.

The gap to leaders Atletico Madrid, who lost 1-0 at Sevilla FC on Sunday, is just one point.

The hosts also benefited from a debatable referee decision: Valladolid's midfielder Oscar Plano was sent off with a red card in the 79th minute for fouling Dembélé.

The video evidence was not used on the scene.

Coach Ronald Koeman was dissatisfied with large parts of the performance after the game.

“I saw a Barça that was a little slow and tired.

We had no control over the game, ”said Koeman, who was happier with the second 45 minutes.

“We improved in the second half.

We have shown that we can win games even without playing well. "

Messi honored for record game

Lionel Messi, who made his 768th competitive game for the Catalans against Real Sociedad, was honored by the club before kick-off and received a framed jersey signed by all his teammates.

No other player has played for Barcelona more than the Argentine superstar, who has surpassed club legend Xavi (767 games).

Before the Clasico against Real Madrid on Saturday (9 p.m., TV: Dazn), he demanded a significant increase: "We have to shift up a gear, we have to play with more rhythm," said Messi: "If not, it will be complicated for us . "

ngo / dpa / sid