Barcelona 1-1 Athletic Bilbao: LaLiga gameweek 7 match report

Barcelona 1-1 Athletic Bilbao: match report

For the first time in 14 years, Athletic Bilbao will leave the Camp Nou with a positive result. They haven't earned as much as a point against Barcelona in the league since 2004 but while they went ahead against Valverde's side on Saturday afternoon, they had to work in the end to hang on.

Ernesto Valverde left Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets out of his side with Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on the horizon. It wasn't long, however, before Barcelona players and fans were sending glances to the sidelines.

Athletic Bilbao looked like they might struggle based on the opening exchanges. Coutinho started brightly and Berizzo's side couldn't hold onto the ball for longer than a couple of seconds.

Slowly, however, they did find their feet. They were exploiting the space Busquets usually occupies and Raul Garcia was starting to win second balls and influence the game.

As the game ticked on, it looked increasingly likely that the visitors would take the lead. And that they did when Susaeta sent a cross into Oscar de Marcos at the back post.

Sergi Roberto failed to track the run properly and his arm in the air for an offside didn't impact the linesman's correct decision. Barcelona trailed and they needed solutions.

They were slow to appear but when Messi came on after Busquets within four minutes of each other, on 51 and 55, it looked like they might have the answer.

Suarez scored but it was ruled out for offside. Coutinho his the crossbar and Rakitic blazed over too. That was before the leveller came. Messi got the ball on the right after 84 minutes and shot, which Unai Simon saved. The Argentine reacted first and fired the rebound back towards goal. Munir, another sub, poked it home as Barcelona went in search of a second and a winner.

Athletic Bilbao had stopped attacking as they tried to prevent Barcelona ripping through them - it would take all of their focus to do that with no time or thought left to pushing men forward. They managed it just about as they pick up another point against a massive rival.

Berizzo's side still haven't won since the opening weekend and have drawn four, losing one in the meantime.

Barcelona neither picked up three points, or got any meaningful rest for Messi or Busquets. They did accomplish one thing and that is to raise more questions over their form and style ahead of an important game in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: live updates

Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao: preview

In two games, Barcelona have dropped five points and while Athletic Bilbao are not lighting LaLiga up themselves, they have improved massively under Eduardo Berizzo. Kick-off from Camp Nou is at 16:15 on September 29 2018 in what is sure to be a nervous affair for both sides and for various reasons.

Ernesto Valverde's side were dealt a massive blow during the week when Samuel Umtiti was ruled out for a number of weeks with knee ligament damage. Clement Lenglet and Thomas Vermaelen are the other options beside Gerard Pique but neither have been bastions of security this season. Legnlet was sent off in his first start for the club last weekend against Girona and the Belgian, Vermaelen, was whipped off after a poor showing at left-back when Jordi Alba needed rest against Leganes. 

Denis Suárez, Malcom, Samper and Aleñá have been left out of the squad by Valverde and while the manager rotated against Leganes with Alba and Luis Suarez on the bench, you can be sure it will be a full strength team to play a particularly tough opponent at the Camp Nou on Saturday afternoon.

Athletic Bilbao are coming off a few strange results. They were beaten well, at home, by Villarreal but pushed Real Madrid to the limit just a week before with an organised and intense approach. They also drew with Real Betis 2-2 last weekend meaning they have not won since the first day of the season but have also only lost once.