Ter Stegen denies Athletic Club
The Barça goalkeeper made a series of excellent saves as Athletic and Barcelona drew 0-0 in San Mamés.
Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Barcelona: match report
Athletic Club might have accepted a point before the game if it was on offer but the way the game at the San Mames panned out, they might feel like they left Barcelona off the hook. Their gameplan completely disrupted the visitors and aside from a 15 minute spell at the start of the second half, they had them on the rack.
Lionel Messi started even though he continues to struggle through a thigh issue and Ousmane Dembélé was named on the bench. And while Barcelona missed the very best version of Messi although he wasn't helped by placid displays from the likes of Luis Suárez, Arturo Vidal and Philippe Coutinho along with the absence of suspended Jordi Alba.
It was Athletic Club who started better and Yuri Berchciche sent a warning shot across goal early on. They were trying to disrupt Barcelona high but were more than willing to sit back and soak up pressure when required. And that time did come when Messi started to get into his stride.
A bicycle kick from Raul Garcia hit Ter Stegen in the chest, which came after the German showed off his agility to claw a Markel Susaeta curler over the bar. The ball seemed so close to going in for Athletic Club but never did after a succession of corners that saw Ter Stegen punch the ball perilously close to his own goalline.
Barcelona improved after the break and it felt like Athletic Club would have to suffice with the memories of a decent first half as the only thing they could take from the game. But Messi and co., while they had plenty of possession at the start of the second, lacked any sort of a goal threat.
Iker Muniain came on after that initial 17 minute Barcelona burst at the start of the second and turned the game back in Bilbao's favour. He immediately started a counter that saw Mikel San Jose's strike blaze past Ter Stegen's post.
They countered time and time again with Iñaki Williams forcing Clement Lenglet and Sergio Busquets into fouls that resulted in yellow cards and they were growing increasingly worried about the striker's pace. When he did find himself with chances, he was rejected by Ter Stegen. As himself and Muniain linked up, they continued to look more and more dangerous. Sadly for them and the baying masses at the stadium in red and white, Ter Stegen was looking more and more confident that he wouldn't be beaten. And he wasn't during a man of the match performance.
De Marcos saw red for a second yellow after a hand ball on a Barcelona counter but with time running out, they did not have time to make it count.
Athletic Club finished with 10 shots on goal with five on target while Barcelona could only produce 50% of that output with five shots and three on target.
Gaizka Garitano said "Barcelona know we aren't an easy team to play against" in his press conference before the game and they will be leaving San Mames on Sunday night even more concsious of that as they extend their lead at the top of LaLiga to six points, which could have been eight, but was very nearly just five.
Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona live online: match updates
Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona live online: preview
It's always a special fixture and a fiery one at that. Athletic Club have improved massively in recent weeks since Eduardo Berizzo was replaced by Gaizka Garitano and while Barça are looking to improve their lead at the top of the table to eight points, they are coming off a Clásico and might want to keep a returning Messi and Dembéle for bigger games. Kick-off from San Mames is at 20:45 CET.
Garitano has improved Athletic Bilbao so much that they have only lost once in his eight LaLiga games in charge. That result came in the Basque derby against Real Socieda last week and while that run is impressive, there have been a number of uninspiring draws wedged into that list against Alavés, Real Valladolid and Villarreal. Their good run has also coincide with some other strange results and they currently sit just three points above the danger zone. The last time Athletic took anything from a game against Barcelona was in Setpember 2018, the last time they played, but before that, they hadn't done it since December 2013. It was also the first time in seven games Athletic Club had scored against them. Iñaki Williams has seven goals this season but is goalless in three and will need to find the net again if they are to upset Barcelona's march to the title.
Lionel Messi is back in the squad and Ousmane Dembélé has also been given the all clear after a dose of tonsilits. Malcom was excellent against Real Madrid in the Clásico and competition in attack is ramping up with Ernesto Valverde facing a headache when team selection time rolls around. That being said, Coutinho might have played himself off the team in recent weeks with his performance in the Clásico certainly not helping his cause. The manager says "Messi will start if he's okay," but that's all we know. Arthur, Rafinha, Cillessen and Umtiti all remain out injured with questions over who started in Arthur's stead while Lenglet looks set to continue in Umtiti's place. Jordi Alba is suspended for the game.