Ernie admits Barca should be well ahead

BARCELONA coach Ernesto Valverde concedes his side could have been in a much better position heading into the second leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 tie with Celta Vigo, but was far from unhappy after Thursday’s 1-1 draw.

Jose Arnaiz’s 15th-minute strike for the visitors was soon cancelled out by Pione Sisto’s thunderous finish at Balaidos, to leave Valverde admitting there is “all to play for” at the Nou Camp next week.

However, Barca had enough chances to make the return meeting academic, with Sergio Busquets and Sergi Roberto hitting the woodwork in the second half and Arnaiz (twice), Denis Suarez and the returning Ousmane Dembele all spurning openings.

Second-half substitute Dembele was making his first appearance since September, and only his fourth for Barca since his club-record £96.8million move from Borussia Dortmund, after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Valverde said in quotes reported by the Spanish media: “It’s true that we could have obtained a better result, although they too had chances.

“It’s been a hard-fought match. They pressed high up and were dangerous on their counter-attacks, and we were as well.

“Afterwards, they were dropping back and we were pushing forward, in the first 20 minutes of the second half we could have decided the game, but we didn’t score.

“I’m happy with the work of the team but there is all to play for in the second leg.”

Barca have found Celta a tough nut to crack in recent years, losing three times in their last seven meetings as well as being held to a 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp in LaLiga last month.

That was the first time since March that Barca had dropped points at home - during which time they had won 18 successive matches by a combined 70-13 scoreline - and Valverde admits he needs no reminding of the threat the Galician side pose.

He added: “We know the potential of Celta. They’ve got great players. They showed it in the league game and they’ve shown it today.

“They will come to play and so will we. We respect them a lot and we need to be wary.”