La Liga: Barcelona snatch a point against Bilbao at home

Barcelona’s poor run continued in the La Liga as they played out a 1-1 draw at home against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Eyebrows were raised early on when Ernesto Valverde decide to not give Argentine star Lionel Messi a place in the starting eleven. Yet, it was the forward himself who came on in the second half and his shot when deflected into the net Munir El Haddadi only fetched Barcelona a point, after they were down by a goal in the 41^st minute.

An assist from right winger Markel Susaeta helped Oscar de Marcos find the net in the 41^st minute as Bilbao, much against the hopes of the home fans drew first blood in the match.

The home side then had to wait for some more time before Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal made way for Messi and he assisted the Barcelona number 19 Haddadi in the 84^th minute to snatch a point.

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Explaining the move to rest Messi, Valverde said, “Leaving Messi on the bench is absolutely my responsibility,”

He has four games in 10 days and I think it’s good for Leo to rest, like Busquets, thinking of the Champions League.

“I know it was the right decision. It was a risk and on this occasion, it didn’t come off,” Valverde, as quoted by AFP said.

“He has four games in 10 days and I think it’s good for Leo to rest, like Busquets, thinking of the Champions League,” he added.

However, Barcelona would aim to correct all such errors when they face Tottenham in the Champions League on Thursday.

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Despite this result, they retained their position at the top of the La Liga table with 14 points, equal to that of  Real Madrid. But the Catalans are ahead owing to a superior goal difference.

In another match, it was Sevilla, who maintained their winning run with a 3-1 victory over Eibar. Portuguese striker Andre Silva scored in the 47^th minute and a brace from midfielder Ever Banega helped them cap off a good weekend.

(Image credit-Barca Blaugranes)