Without ambition at the beginning and without talent later, Barça stopped dead. The void match at San Mamés represents a step back in Barcelona’s aspirations in the League. Unable to close the gap with Madrid, the team is a victim of its own technical limitations and also loses two of its brains for the decisive part of the season. It was a night to win and Xavi’s men were left in the dark, showing their little football and his helplessness.
Not even Barcelona’s unbeaten streak as a visitor in the League was cut short, and Athletic has already gone 13 games without losing at home, but no one can be satisfied. De Jong’s sprain and Pedri’s umpteenth muscle incident cost his team a lot during the game and looking to the future, just as Athletic, who took breaks, missed Nico Williams, who was suspended.
Xavi almost copied the eleven that beat Getafe thinking that the same game plan would serve him in San Mamés but the match was nothing like running behind the defense. On the contrary, they played a lot on having control, with more intention of keeping the ball and only taking risks if it was very clear, to minimize losses and eliminate the possibility of receiving vertical play. Both were more concerned with avoiding blows than with delivering them.
That score with little ambition counteracted the interests of Barça, which needed the three points to take advantage of the leader’s tie and Girona’s defeat and show that they can fight for the League. He had the opportunity he was looking for before him and he didn’t go for it brazenly. For Valverde’s team, the tacit non-aggression pact did not hurt them so much because they continued dreaming of sneaking into the Champions League 24-25.
So Barcelona started having more possession than expected. Far from being a broken duel, there was a lot of midfield and there Gündogan, Pedri and De Jong seemed to have an advantage against an Athletic team with an absolutely new core (Vesga, Dani García and Unai Gómez) after the hangover from qualifying for the cup final. The suspension of Nico Williams also caused the locals to be more cerebral and less passionate than they normally are when playing in front of their fans.
On the other hand, in the visiting lineup the ownership of Raphinha was squeaky, who is very electric when he has meters but loses reliability in small spaces and interiors. While Lamine Yamal, who was unbalanced on his first visit to the Cathedral, in January in the Cup, was watched from the bench.
If Athletic wanted few things to happen until in the final stretch they could use their starters, tired from the semifinal, the injuries first to De Jong and then to Pedri helped them a lot. Both of them reoccurred problems that they already had at the beginning of the season, both of them did it alone and both of them immediately realized that the misfortune was not minor. De Jong, in a jump in which all the weight fell on his right ankle, which bent. Pedri injured his right thigh after making a long trip and left in tears, leaving his position to Lamine Yamal.
Without the Dutchman and the Canary Islander, Barcelona lost quality in spades in one fell swoop. The Blaugrana, who have been without Gavi since November, were left with only Gündogan of the four interior players they had in their summer planning. And to make matters worse, the German had to stand next to Christensen to participate in the creation.
The first time and the only time in the first half that Barcelona caught Athletic on the wrong foot was when Gündogan filtered a good pass to Fermín, De Jong’s substitute. The player from Huelva wanted to resolve but he found Unai Simón who came out of the area and took the shot with his foot, risking a lot. The ball was repelled and from 40 meters Cancelo tried to score with a spectacular shot. The national team’s goalkeeper ran and reacted to prevent the goal. He helped Yeray clear the danger on the line.
The eventful first half took its toll on Barcelona’s spirit and after the break Athletic took the step forward that it was suspected they would take. The red and whites began to enter the area with shots from the lone Iñaki Willians, who missed his brother, (high) and from Unai Gómez (out). The entry of Sancet made the locals stretch even more. At Barcelona it was difficult to have continuity in the game, no matter how much Lamine Yamal put a lot of effort into it and exhibited personality. Only once did Gündogan, Cancelo and Lewandowski meet inside. In the best twisted play, the pass reached the Pole in the area and when he was about to finish he saw how Paredes dove to the ground to block his chance.
The triple change of Iñigo Martínez (received with constant whistles), Romeu and João Félix gave more substance and bite to Xavi’s team, which was left waiting for individuality in attack from the Portuguese, the willful Lamine Yamal or an isolated Lewandowski. That spark didn’t come. Barça did not even approach Unai Simón. He was too lame in football and dry of ideas.
Athletic: Unai Simón, Prados (De Marcos 80), Yeray, Paredes, Imanol, Dani García, Vesga (Galarreta 63), Iñaki Williams (Adu Ares 76), Unai Gómez (Sancet 63), Berenguer and Guruzeta (Villalibre 76).
Coach: Ernesto Valverde
Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Kound, Araújo, Cubarsi (Inigo Martinez 76), Cancelo, Christensen (Oriol Romeu 76), De Jong (Fermin 26), Gündogan, Pedri (Lamine Yamal 45), Rafinha (John Felix 76) and Lewandowski.
Coach: Xavi Hernández
Stadium: Nuevo San Mamés (50,295 spectators).
Referee: Hernández Hernández (c. Canario).
Cards: Yellow cards for Dani García, Imanol, Berenguer, Araújo, Christensen and Koundé. And to coach Xavi Hernández.
Goals: There were none.
