Barça boss Valverde admits Borussia Dortmund made his side suffer

Barça boss Valverde admits Borussia Dortmund made his side suffer

 El técnico azulgrana reconoció que no tuvieron su mejor partido y elogió el juego desplegado por el Borussia Dortmund / | Movistar

The Spanish champions didn't have a shot on target in the entire game

Ernesto Valverde conceded Barcelona "suffered" as they escaped Borussia Dortmund with a goalless draw in their Champions League opener on Tuesday. 

Barça failed to have a shot on target in the game and were thankful to the saves of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, including a second half penalty stop from Marco Reus. 

"The result is what it is," Valverde said. "We suffered a lot, we have to recognise that. It was something we knew would happen. The possession alternated but they created more danger. We didn't have as many chances as them.

"It was a tough game. They are a difficult side to play at home. What we always want is that our play results in chances and that wasn't the case today.

"Our goalkeeper has balanced things out for us. In La Liga we've spoken about how the opposition have been scoring against us, but that didn't happen today. We have a great goalkeeper and we befit from that."

As well as Ter Stegen's performance, there was also a boost for Barça in the sight of Lionel Messi returning. The Argentine international came on for the final half an hour to make his first appearance of the season.  

"It's like any other player that's not done preseason," Valverde said. "He's had to come into a game being played with an incredible rhythm. And he's done so without preparation really. They're his first 30 minutes of the season -- he's only had four training sessions."

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