Valdes upbeat despite Nou Camp defeat

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes refused to be downhearted after his side’s shock Champions League defeat at home to Liverpool, insisting they still have a "great chance" of progressing through.

The reigning European champions suffered only their second home loss to an English team after succumbing 2-1 to Liverpool, who remain unbeaten in their four trips to the Nou Camp.

Deco had given the hosts a flying start in the last-16 first leg with an opening goal after 14 minutes – the first goal Liverpool have ever conceded away to Barca – and the Catalan giants then enjoyed a prolonged spell of pressure.

However, Frank Rijkaard’s men were unable to make the most of their domination, and Liverpool hit back to snatch the victory thanks to goals in either half from Craig Bellamy and John Arne Riise.

Valdes may have felt he could have done better with Bellamy’s header, which just sneaked over the line despite the Barca goalkeeper getting his body behind it, but he could do nothing about Riise’s winner.

Valdes had already done well to deny Dirk Kuyt when the rebound fell to Bellamy, who promptly passed across the goal where the unmarked Riise smashed a superb rising shot into the roof of the net.

Valdes admits Bellamy’s goal just before half-time was the real blow to their confidence.

“The first goal was hard to take, but I thought we would come back and win,” he said.

"We are all very disappointed but we still have it all to play for.”

Barca now face an uphill battle to keep their title defence alive, and while Valdes admits it will be tough, he sees no reason why they cannot go to Anfield and turn the tie around.

“Liverpool made it difficult for us today and we made some mistakes as well,” he added. “It will be hard to go through, but we still have a great chance. Just as they won here, we can win there.”

Barca defender Gianluca Zambrotta, who set Deco up for the game’s opening goal with a pinpoint cross to the far post, also believes his side are not out of it yet.

“We are disappointed but at the same time relaxed because we still feel that we can get through to the next round,” he said.

“The dressing room was quiet after the game, but we will get over it and come back stronger. We will now have to make sure we learn from the mistakes we made today.”

Midfielder Andres Iniesta added: “Teams like Liverpool make things very hard for us and sometimes we don’t take our chances.

“We have to be optimistic.”