Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde was calm after defeat to Espanyol last night.

Barca, denied a penalty, lost the first-leg of their Copa del Rey tie 1-0 to an 88th minute Oscar Melendo winner.

Valverde said, "Our goalkeeper did not have to intervene in the game. They have waited from deep and closed the inside spaces, it was hard for us, but we had the match under control and the goal chances were coming.

"I liked my team a lot because they had a good attitude, the field was difficult to play on, we tried to do what we know and we have to accept things, they have defended, they have run and we congratulate them. In a week we'll see them at the Camp Nou."

Barca goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen had an object thrown at him from the home crowd and the coach added: "I have not seen it, there are discussions about every play, I have not seen anything special, it's a derby and that's what gives a little sauce to this."