Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman admitted relief after their 1-0 defeat of Real Valladolid.

Koeman acknowledged that his Barcelona side weren't quite at their best as they beat Real Valladolid 1-0 on Monday evening, courtesy of a late Ousmane Dembele strike.

The visitors were plagued by absences and spent the last 10 minutes playing with a man fewer than the Catalans, but it took a late goal from the Frenchman to get Koeman's side over the line.

"We lacked a lot in the first half," Koeman said afterwards.

"We didn't press them very well. I saw a slow, tired Barcelona from the start.

"We didn't control the game. So we changed the system and improved in the second half.

"It was a difficult game and we were some way off our level. Real Valladolid did a good job defensively, but you have to know how to suffer and I think we deserved to win."