Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Barcelona: Ter Stegen saves a point
Barca were poor in the first half and improved in the second on a frustrating night at the San Mames
Barcelona moved six points clear at the top of La Liga even as they struggled in a goalless draw at Athletic Bilbao.
ATH
0 ________________ 0
FCB
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Athletic Club
Herrerín; De Marcos, Yeray, Iñigo Martínez, Balenziaga; Beñat (San José, min. 56), Dani García; Susaeta (c) (Munian, min. 63), Raúl García, Yuri e Iñaki Williams (Kenan Kodro, min. 89).
FC Barcelona
Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Lenglet (Vermaelen, min. 87), Semedo; Busquets, Rakitic, Arturo Vidal (Aleñá, min. 63); Messi (c), Coutinho (Dembélé, min. 72) y Luis Suárez.
Árbitro
Del Cerro Grande (comité madrileño). Amonestó con cartulina amarilla a Dani García (min. 51), Lenglet (min. 71), Busquets (min. 77) y expulsó a De Marcos por doble amonestación (min. 68 y 90).
Incidencias
Partido de la jornada 23 de LaLiga Santander disputado en el estadio de San Mamés ante 47.587 espectadores.
Lionel Messi hit the crossbar with a lob although the goal would have been ruled out for offside, while Marc-Andre ter Stegen made two brilliant saves.
The first was an acrobatic leap to tip over Markel Susaeta’s effort, the second a close range reflex stop to keep Inaki Williams at bay.
Those were the pick of the chances in a tight game with few openings.
Athletic defender Oscar de Marcos was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time for handball.
Reigning La Liga champions Barcelona are unbeaten in 11 games but have now drawn two in a row in the top flight, three if you count the Spanish Cup Clasico semi with Real Madrid on Wednesday.
“It’s always good to get a point against a side like Barcelona but we had the better chances and created more danger, Ter Stegen was sensational,” said Gaizka Garitano, the Bilbao coach.
“They have a great goalkeeper who made two great saves, but we are happy with getting a point and the work our players did.”
