Barcelona surrenders to the League

Barça passes and continues. Xavi’s side suffered terribly this Sunday at San Mamés, but they bounced back to take another win by the minimum margin that allows them to maintain a nine-point gap with Real Madrid. The Culés celebrated 0-1 in a clash in which they did not show their best edition, but in which they managed to draw Raphinha in the first half in an isolated game.

It was a big game and you could see it in the atmosphere. San Mamés, dressed in their best clothes, was filled to capacity and began to play in advance a game that promised a top game. The two Miuras came face to face, testing the forward pressure like no one else and not allowing the ball holder even half a meter. This was precisely what could be seen in the first beats of authentic dizziness. Xavi reverted to the traditional 4-3-3, with Gavi, Busquets and De Jong in midfield and Lewandowski as the big novelty in attack. The bet allowed him to have enough weapons to exchange shots that Valverde prepared, but it took away his control in the wide field, where Barça are starting to win games. In that scenario, there was a round-robin match in which the Williams brothers intimidated and in which the Catalans managed to lead Ferran Torres to a volley and Lewandowski one-on-one, which Agirrezabal, very attentively, disturbed.

Barça did not have all of them with them. He had two chances, but something didn’t go as Xavi was in the script. His team caught the atmosphere of San Mamés where Barca’s cards flew for the ‘Negreiro case’ and could not have long possessions to reduce the number of spins in the duel. The Culés did not show their best version in the first half and could have even reached the scoreboard if Ter Stegen had not intervened before Iñaki Williams’ shot or if Raúl García had not hit the post with a corner kick, but something is different in the Culé this year. The coin almost always comes heads and reappeared on the edge of the break. Busquets found Raphinha inside the penalty area and the Brazilian hit with his right hand to open the scoring and a good culé plan.

Polemics

Barça finally managed to control the game a little more after the restart. Busquets took control, Gavi and De Jong expanded the midfield and spaces began to appear there to break through the lines from the back and for Lewandowski, an island in the first half, to drop down and intervene more. It was the best minutes for Barça who found a freeway on the left wing with Baldeo, very active throughout the game, and who had the best chance to silence San Mamés as Lewandowski’s header went just ahead of the astonished gaze of Agirrezabala, already completely defeated.

At the time, Barça was already at a point where she didn’t know if she should cover her head or legs with a blanket. The Culés have had problems closing out games this year and Xavi, expecting a final arreón from Athletico, decided to cut his losses by putting some muscle in the midfield. Coach Tarrasa reverted to a 4-4-2, bringing on Kessié in place of Ferran Torres and his team took a step back that could have been costly. Athletic turned upside down and had up to four unbeaten chances in the last part. Berenguer sent the ball onto the post after a deflected shot from Christensen, Ter Stegen swooped in to deny Muniain, VAR ruled out Iñaki Williams’ handball in Muniain’s previous play and, finally, Marcos Alonso took another ball over lines for the delirium of the desperate San Mamés against the insurmountable Barça, which continues at a record pace in the defensive field. They have conceded just 8 goals in 25 games and keep a nine-point gap on Real Madrid intact.

Technical document:

Athletic: Agirrezabala, De Marcos (Capa, min. 84), Vivian, Iñigo, Balenziaga (Yuri, min. 70), Dani García, Vesga (Zarraga, min. 64), Nico, Raúl García (Muniain, min. 64), Berenguer (Guruzeta, min. 84) and Iñaki Williams.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Koundé, Christensen, Balde, Busquets, De Jong (Ansu Fati, min. 83), Gavi (Alarcón, min. 95), Raphinha (Marcos Alonso, min. 84), Lewandowski and Ferran Torres (Kessié ), min. 68).

Goal: 0-1: minutes 45+2, Raphinha.

Referee: Gil Manzano (Comit’Extremadura). He warned Iñaki Williams, Sergi Roberto and Zarraga.

Incidents: The match corresponding to the 25th day of the League, played in San Mamés in front of 49,741 spectators.