All Bar�a�s football

Match

Marcador del partit

Date: Sunday, 27 Jan
Competition: ???label.competicio0???
Stadium: San Mam�s, Bilbao

Resultat:

Athletic Club: 1
FC Barcelona: 1

Match report

Match Report
Pre-Match

Match Report

THE GOALS

0-1, Bojan (min 34)
1-1, Llorente (min 78)

San Mam�s holds Bar�a (1-1)

Roger Boguny�

Athletic Club and FC Barcelona have drawn 1-1 in the 21st round of league matches. A first half goal from Bojan (34th minute) was not enough to bring Bar�a their fourth win in a row.

Bar�a failed to continue their winning streak at San Mam�s. A first half goal from Bojan put Bar�a ahead, but they were unable to find a second. And tragedy struck in the 78th minute when Athletic equalised, putting a stop to Rijkaard’s excellent start to the year.

Cautious start

The early moments of the game saw Athletic well positioned on the pitch and Bar�a, despite enjoying most of the possession, unable to find a way through. It was an intense match but chances were slow in coming, with neither of the two teams getting close to each other’s goals.

Bojan opens fire

Mistakes were being made all over the pitch, and the game took a good half hour to really get going. Aduriz found himself one on one with Vald�s but his shot went over (min 33). Just a minute later, after almost going a goal down, Barcelona went ahead. Messi failed to get on the end of a through ball, but it was enough to trouble Aranzubia, whose clearance only made it as far as Deco, who laid up Bojan to finish the move with an angled left foot shot that went straight into the back of the net to silence San Mam�s.

After those two minutes of mayhem, the game reverted to the slow and steady pace of before, and there were no further incidents before the break.

Almost 0-2

20 minutes into the second half, Henry sent what could have been Bar�a’s second wide. Another chance went begging minutes later, when Deco put his effort over the bar. All of the most dangerous Bar�a attacks seemed to be coming through Leo Messi, as effective as ever on the right wing.

Chances each way

But these chances did little to demoralise the home side, who gradually started enjoying more and more of the possession. But one of the few real chances to come of it, from Javi Mart�nez in the 55th minute, was impeccably saved by Vald�s. Bar�a only had the one chance of their own, which Puyol failed to take advantage of (min 70).

Home recovery

Edm�lson came on for Xavi in the 63rd minute as Bar�a came under more and more threat. Caparr�s adventurously sent on strikers Llorente and Aitor Ramos, plus attacking midfielder Garmendia. But none of the new arrivals were able to create anything of note until the 78th minute, when a Garmendia cross from the right led to a tussle between Llorente and Thuram that saw the ball end up in the net. 1-1, and a heavy blow for Barcelona.

The final minutes saw both sides surging forward in search of a win, but nothing came of it. The game ended with honours even and Bar�a have missed out on what would have been their fourth league win in a row.

Preview

3-1 earlier this season

Ronaldinho (2) and Tour� Yaya scored the goals when the two sides met at the Camp Nou earlier this season, although neither of these payers will be in the side on Sunday. That game ended with Barcelona winning 3-1 . Susaeta, who will be on the field at San Mam�s, scored the visitor’s only goal on September 2.

Differing interests

Roger Boguny�

Bar�a visit San Mam�s this evening (19.00 live on Bar�a TV, PPV and Radio Bar�a) in search of their fourth league win in a row, while the home side needs points to get away from the relegation zone.

This Sunday is the date for the 77th league meeting between Athletic Club and FC Barcelona in Bilbao. This is a classic tie between two clubs that have never played second division football, although going into game 21 the two sides are in contrasting positions. The home side is tied on points with Murcia, who are in the bottom three, while Bar�a are on a roll and have won their least three league fixtures.

With Abidal but without M�rquez

Frank Rijkaard is able to welcome back �ric Abidal, who was out with a leg injury in the cup clash with Villarreal. But Rafael M�rquez is missing after hurting his left thigh and so changes will be needed in the middle of the park. The full squad also includes the other 17 players the manager can choose from.

Need to win

Everybody is aware of how important it is to get three points from the trip to San Mam�s in order to maintain the pressure on leaders Real Madrid, who will be facing Villarreal immediately after this game finishes, with seven points currently dividing the sides.

But two things will be required in Bilbao. First the Bar�a defence will need to keep up the good work done recently where they have kept four consecutive clean sheets. But secondly, they will need to start scoring again, after just scoring once, against Racing, in the last 270 minutes.

Messi finding form

One man who will have much responsibility in that area is Leo Messi. The Argentinian is finding his touch again after five weeks on the sidelines, and played 25 minutes against Racing and 45 at the Madrigal. In Bilbao, like on Thursday in Villarreal, Messi should be able to cause all kinds of problems for the home defenders.

Athletic, kings of draws

Bilbao are missing the suspended Amorebieta at the back, as well as goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz. The last time they lost at home was a month and a half ago against Madrid, and of the 10 games played so far at San Mam�s, no fewer than six have ended in draws (the other were two wins and two defeats). No other team has so many draws at home, and a seventh stalemate would be of little benefit to either side.