Dembele last-minute winner pushes Barcelona to second in league

Ousmane Dembele scored a 90th-minute volley to help Barcelona overcome ten-men Real Valladolid 1-0 at the Camp Nou stadium on Monday.

The Catalans endured a frustrating evening against relegation-threatened Valladolid but Ronald Koeman’s side eventually prevailed and are on a 19-match unbeaten league run.

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Barcelona have won six straight league games and have not lost in La Liga this year.

Real Valladolid had the first opportunity through Kenan Kodro but the defender’s header hit the crossbar while Pedri’s shot was turned onto the post by the goalkeeper in Barcelona’s only attack of note in the first period.

Barcelona improved in the second half and Dembele should have scored when put clean on goal but the Jordi Masip pulled off a smart low save while Lionel Messi narrowly missed the far corner.
Numerical advantage was the turning point as Valladolid’s Oscar Plano was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Dembele.

The 23-year-old former Borussia Dortmund winger would have the final say at the far post when his volley from defender Ronald Araujo’s flick-on sneaked in at the near post.

The win brings Barcelona to within one point of league leaders Atletico Madrid in second place and two points ahead of Real Madrid, whom they face next in El Clasico on Saturday, in third.