Barcelona drew for the third match in a row on Sunday, as Athletic Bilbao claimed a 0-0 draw against them at San Mames.
Match Report
Lionel Messi's return to the starting line-up was not enough to prevent Barcelona drawing a third successive match across all competitions, as Athletic Bilbao held out for a 0-0 stalemate at San Mames in LaLiga.
Argentina superstar Messi was only named among the substitutes for Wednesday's 1-1 Copa del Rey draw against Real Madrid having struggled with a thigh injury and he looked a little off colour as Barca end the weekend just six points clear of Los Blancos in second.
Athletic edged an entertaining first half and went close on a couple of occasions, while Barca appeared to be missing the talents of Arthur in midfield – Arturo Vidal failing to impress in a similar role to the injured Brazilian, who faces a month out.
Ernesto Valverde's side had little luck creating clear-cut opportunities in the second half - albeit Nelson Semedo was contentiously denied a last-gasp penalty – and could have even have lost as Athletic, who had Oscar De Marcos sent off for a second bookable offence in injury-time, went close twice late on.
Player Ratings
Match Events
17' GREAT SAVE! Susaeta's shot saved by Ter Stegen
SAVE!!!! Ter Stegen pulls off a fabulous save after Susaeta tries his luck from the edge of the box. The midfielder spins onto his left foot before aiming for the far corner but the keeper tips the ball over the bar.
26' CHANCE! Messi's shot wide out
Messi plays in Semedo before latching onto the rebound and trying a chip. He clips the top of the crossbar but the referee pulls him up for offside!
41' CLOSE! Garcia's shot wide out
WIDE!!!! Bilbao work the ball down the right wing before Susaeta picks out Raul Garcia at the back post. The midfielder has time to bring the ball under control, but he can only fire wide. He is adamant his effort took a deflection but a goal kick is given.
65' CLOSE! Jose's shot wide out
WIDE - After absorbing another Barcelona attack, Bilbao burst forward with Yuri. The winger turns inside from the touchline and picks out San Jose who glides into the path of the pass and shoots. His effort looks destined for the far corner, but he curls it just wide!
82' SAVE! Ter Stegen denies Williams' shot
CHANCE!!!! Muniain bursts into the Barcelona box before picking out Williams. The striker takes a touch before setting himself, but Ter Stegen stays big and palms his effort away. That was a huge moment in this game!
Line-ups
Athletic Club XI: R.García, Susaeta, Beñat, Balenziaga, Iago Herrerín, De Marcos, Berchiche, I.Martínez, D.García, Y.Álvarez, I.Williams
Subs: San José, Muniain, Ibai, Kodro, Unai Simón, Núñez, Córdoba
Barcelona XI: L. Messi, L. Suárez, Piqué, I. Rakitić, Vidal, Sergio Busquets, Philippe Coutinho, M. ter Stegen, S.Roberto, Lenglet, Semedo
Subs: Prince, T. Vermaelen, Jeison Murillo, Carles Aleñá, O. Dembélé, Malcom, Iñaki Peña
birthday
343
2 funny stats: Marc-André ter Stegen has saved 30 of the last 34 shots on target he has faced for Barca in La Liga (four goals conceded). Barcelona have failed to score in a La Liga game for the first time since February 2018 against Getafe, 37 games ago
shubhca
343
ter stegen is the cheat code of barcelona this season
horse
332
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Ter Setgen
ShishirYadav
312
I think in the second half Coutinho was getting involved a lot and we were creating goal scoring opportunities but then he subs him off (suarez should have been taken off) and athletic club starts pressuring barca again, #valverdeout
Thiago_
305
Barcelona acting like Real Madrid under Lopetegui While Real Madrid acting like man city 😡😡 #valvarde out
JohnHalamadrid
281
Madrid just 6 points behind..Race is on..#Halamadrid
Madristas-11
258
what does Michael Jackson and kepa have in common they use gloves for no reason man of the match stegen
Ropclosz
248
breaking news: Sarri's smoking causes valverde's cancer...✌😂
Dhairya_Rawal
196
Just asking... Wasn't that last one a foul on Semedo??
Suche
188
Why can’t this coach bench Suarez for Christsake. He doesn’t offer anything on the table. I’m utterly disgusted.
Obed-messi
148
Many thanks goes to Stergen for the marvellous work he'd done tonight despite well done Andre well done
Mdarandaba
136
What we have learnt from Barca's 0-0 draw at Bilbao? 1)The absence of Alba makes Barcelona more weak both defensively and attacking.Playing Semedo or Roberto in that position doesn't work and this is a 3rd match now. A left foot is required for cutting inside crosses,something that we have not seen in those matches. 2) Vidal was the weakest link in the midfield, in fact he is not a Barcelona type of player because he can't control and move the ball quickly when under pressure like Arthur. The midfield was biased ,only Rakitic played better,Busquests is slowing down and I think Barca did well to bring De jong. 3) Barcelona need a new striker to bench Suarez 4) Overally without Alba Barca is more Vulnerable in defending and having a weak link in attack. Without Arthur in the middle,it is difficult to play against high pressing teams
kondein
62
This Ter Stegen of guy is becoming something else in goal o. who the heck is this guy? Just about perfect. Was he a butterfly in his former life?
barcaforlive1992
52
its official. valverde clearly depend on messi. when messi does not play well barca suffer. as you can see messi did not play well hence barca suffered. this coach is just clueless. coutinho should still be in the match and sub Suarez rather. it is funny when some barca fans still trust valverde. with him forget about champions league. he can only win copa dey rel and la liga. nothing else. I blame bartemeo our president for appointing valverde who clearly can't play barca style. since our current president is a business oriented president. he only care about making money buy and sell.
ParthSadariya
50
lacks intensity, mentally fatigue, suarez fatty and zero, midfield not creative coach don't know how to use substitutes pique is always legend, playing all matches, rakitic tired, coutinho perform as a barca B player I don't think barca win semifinal with this kind of performance Lyon also had a chance to knocked out us.
Viuaeipyz
43
NEVER SEEN BARCA PLAYED THIS SLOPPY 🤦🏽♂ Messi Isn't Fit But Played, didn't look in the game. Suárez Needs To Be Bench, 2nd Game He's not performing. Our Midfield Was Falling Back 2 Much, Especially Busquets, Vidal Slack A lot Today, Poor Passing & Giving Away The Ball, Coutinho can't play so far up, he's only as good on the counters to make a run, dribbling past so much players he can not do such a task. Semedo?! IDK what the hell this chap was doing, I thought he was Dembelle for the entire minutes he played, once cross over on the right flank and Lenglet would of been dead alone ... Thank God The Great Wall Was Focus And Strong
FreeAgent10
38
We have learnt how IMPORTANT ARTHUR is to us because we lack control today. Jordi was missed as well. Coutinho still hasn't step up his game and we cannot blame it the fact he is not playing in his 'correct position' because Semedo didn't play in his usual position but he did well. Messi is about 70% fit. We cannot start Rakitic and Vidal together because there will be 0 creativity. This a blow to us but there's a lot of matches to go and will come back.
Tongwa
26
Pls Fans of Messi can you now vote for Aguero or Ronaldo as the All football player of the week. This time around your player didn't perform as he was expected to do. I wonder what you will do this time to vote Messi as the All Football player of the week since you vote players because you are a fan or supporter of a certain player and you don't vote who actually actually merited to be best player of the week Like I said I will sit and wait to see reactions of Messi's fans during the work