Athletic Club 1-1 Barça: Memphis rocket saves Blaugrana skin in Bilbao

Athletic Club 1-1 Barça: Memphis rocket saves Blaugrana skin in Bilbao

The Dutch forward was one of the brighter lights on a tricky night at San Mames

Gulp. The real business has begun, and Barcelona salvaged a point from a game they didn’t deserve one from.

This was the first real test of the post-Messi Barça; while Real Sociedad are a strong team, historically they have rolled over at Camp Nou without a fuss, as they did last weekend.

Athletic started well, pinning Barcelona back with a strong press, but Martin Braithwaite should have sent the Catalans ahead, blazing wildly over from close range after fine work by Memphis Depay.

Oihan Sancet struck the crossbar as Athletic continued to threaten, with Barcelona struggling to find balance against Marcelino’s side. Inaki Williams had an effort just about saved by Neto, and soon the goalkeeper foolishly gave the ball away and was bailed out by an exceptional Frenkie de Jong sliding block on the Athletic striker. 

Gerard Pique, who came into the game with some physical issues, was forced off injured after half an hour, with Ronald Araujo coming on to replace him. Williams nodded over from a few yards out as the hosts harried Ronald Koeman’s side. 

Barcelona thought they should have gone ahead just before the break, through Araujo’s spectacular overhead kick, but it was ruled out for a supposed foul by Braithwaite, a dubious decision to say the least.

Araujo worked wonders at the other end at the start of the second half, with a spectacular goal-line clearance, as the Basques started strongly again.

They got the goal they deserved after 50 minutes when Inigo Martinez boded in from a corner, with Eric Garcia failing to track the Bilbao centre-back.

It took a special Memphis effort to level, rifled into the top corner after substitute Sergi Roberto fed him.

Memphis might have scored again from a similar position but dragged his effort just wide.

In the end it was Athletic who might have won it, if Eric Garcia didn’t drag down Nico Williams as he raced into the box. Garcia was issued a straight red, compounding an awful day for him.

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