Barcelona 1-0 Real Valladolid: Player ratings as Ousmane Dembele bags all three points late on

A last gasp Ousmane Dembele strike gave Ronald Koeman's Barcelona a 1-0 win against Real Valladolid on Monday night, as La Blaugrana move to within one point of La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid.

The first half proved a tight one, as Valladolid matched their hosts for the most part. The visitors gave Barcelona a scare on nine minutes when a Saidy Janko cross was headed onto the bar by Kenan Kodro.

Barça struggled to produce much, but went close themselves on the stroke of half time. A Pedri effort from around 25 yards out was just tipped onto the post by La Masia product Jordi Masip to keep the game goalless.

The hosts failed to trouble the Valladolid goal too much after the interval, but Masip was forced into some good stops from the likes of Dembele, Lionel Messi and Francisco Trincao.

La Pucela's job was made more difficult in the 79th minute when Oscar Plano was shown a straight red card after dangerously lunging at Dembele from behind.

Barcelona pressed to find the opener and eventually got it in the 90th minute when Frenkie De Jong's cross was flicked on by Ronald Araujo for Dembele to pounce and thrash a volley into Masip's bottom corner, earning them a hard-fought 1-0 victory.

The win moves Koeman's side back up to second and leaves them just one point behind Atletico Madrid ahead of a huge El Clasico next weekend. Now, let's get to the player ratings...

Barcelona player ratings

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (GK) - 6/10 - Was given a major scare early on but hardly called into action afterwards.

Oscar Mingueza (CB) - 6/10 - Another strong performance at the back, regularly shutting the door to his opposition in one on one duels. Also made his trademark marauds forward but couldn't quite find penetrative passes that he can produce.

Frenkie de Jong (CB) - 7/10 - Stayed solid and composed at the back but his best work came as he stepped into midfield for the second half. Gave Valladolid's back line real problems as he allowed Barca to overload forward areas and put in the cross to create the goal.

Clement Lenglet (CB) - 7/10 - Made two tackles and six clearances to keep his side safe, most notably brilliantly denying Sergi Guardiola a certain goal with a faint header away in the fifth minute.

2. Wing-backs & midfielders

Sergino Dest (RWB) - 5/10 - Unusually ineffective when surging forward, failing to deliver any quality for his attacking colleagues. Left a lot of space behind him in the first half but was more defensively solid when his side changed to back four.

Sergio Busquets (CM) - 6/10 - Kept the ball moving well enough but rarely pierced Valladolid's lines. Was rapid to press the opposition and nick the ball back to stifle their counter attacks, making three ball recoveries.

Pedri (CM) - 6/10 - Was his usual creative and industrious self, constantly thinking progressively but looked slightly tired - this being his 46th match of the season, you can understand why.

Jordi Alba (LWB) - 7/10 - Tireless down the left, showing great energy to track back and fulfil his defensive duties while also getting into good positions to deliver quality into the area, achieving one key pass.

3. Forwards

Lionel Messi (RW) - 7/10 - Played a lot of the game centrally, influencing moves with his usual class, creativity and astonishing vision to notch five key passes. Uncharacteristically couldn't find the decisive moment himself, though, despite seven shots.

Ousmane Dembele (ST) - 8/10 - Managed to get much more in the game when pushed out wide after the break, driving at his opposition with the ball and showing great instinct to bag the goal that stole all three points.

Antoine Griezmann (LW) - 6/10 - Roamed around well and managed to get himself between the lines to make two key passes. Just couldn't find a cutting edge to really impact proceedings.

4. Substitutes

Ronald Araujo (CB) - 7/10 - Got the flick on to assist Dembele in the final minute of the game.

Martin Brathwaite (ST) - 5/10

Francisco Trincao (LW) - 6/10

Ilaix Moriba (CM) - 6/10

Riqui Puig (CM) - N/A