Athletic Club vs Barcelona: as it happened
It's all over in San Mamés.
It ends goalless. Both sides had chances to win it but go home with a point apiece.
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There's the final whistle!
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Berenguer sends it in. Dani García is at the back post and headswide.
He's all alone there and should really do better.
What a chance!
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Athletic have a corner on the left...
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There will be threeminutes added on.
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Lamine goes on a lung-bursting run from deep but is stopped when he enters the Athletic half.
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I expected goals tonight but that moment has yet to come.
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Xavi is furious with the outcome of Barcelona's last attack. With less than ten minutes of normal timeto go, will we find a winner?
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Joao Félix's shot on the edge of the box is blocked. The loose ball falls to Cancelo, but he mis-hits it and it goes out for a goalkick.
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Athletic changes
OFF Iñaki Williams
ON Malcom Adu Ares
OFF Gorka Guruzeta
ON Asier Villalibre
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OFF Andreas Christensen
ON Oriol Romeu
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OFF Raphinha
ON João Félix
OFF Pau Cubarsí
ON Iñigo Martínez
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Both sides are about to make more changes.
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Going into tonight's clash, the Catalans were eight points clear of Athletic, who are the ones threatening the Champions League places.
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The Athletic corner from Berenguer is headed away at the front post.
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Will the Athletic pressure finally pay off or can Barcelona break the deadlock?
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Imanol picks up a booking for taking Lamine out with a flying tackle.
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Athletic changes
OFF Mikel Vesga
ON Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta
OFF Unai Gómez
ON Oihan Sancet
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Berenguer sends in the free from the right but there is too much speed on it and Yeray can't connect.
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Athletic are about to make a couple of changes. 0-0
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Berenguer goes on yet another mazy run.Koundé has not been able to handle his ball-carrying ability and when he cuts inside. Eventually, when he makes a yard of space for himself, his shot is blocked.
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Berenguer turns Koundé inside out and sends him to the shops. He then crosses low into the six-yard box, where Cubarsí is there to clear the danger. The home side are making the Blaugrana uncomfortable in the final third.
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Williams cuts in from the left and shoots high and wide.
Seconds later, Barcelona hit Athletic on the counter. Lewandowski shifts it onto his right and sends an effort from distance wide. He didn't curl it like he would have liked.
0-0
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There were very few chances of note in the first half. Barcelona lost both De Jong and Pedri through injury.
It's all to play for in this second half.
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Athletic get us going for the second half.
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There's the whistle for the break!
It's goalless in Bilbao.
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Williams sends in a deep cross from the right. Koundé is well positioned to rise highest and head it clear. 0-0
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There will be six minutes of added-on time.
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Pedri is in tears on the bench, with his head in his hands. He's had no luck whatsoever with injuries.
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OFF Pedri
ON Lamine
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Barcelona have lost both De Jong and Pedri in this first half. What a disaster for Xavi.
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Pedri is down now, in more concerning news for Barcelona. He looks devastated, too.
It's an off-the-ball incident, where he passes the ball and pulls up.
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Substitute Fermín takes down Unai Gómez, who has been heavily involved in this first half. Athletic have a free kick, deservedly. It's been a cagey affair, without any real moments of magic.
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Berenguer gets down the left again and crosses low. Araújo is there to clear it away. 0-0
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Xavi has picked up a yellow for protesting.
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Fermín is through on goal but Unai Simón comes off his line to clear it. Cancelo then shoots as Unai Simón scrambles back to keep it out.Just!
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Williams crosses from the left but it's straight into Ter Stegen's hands.
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The crowd here - as ever - are well up for this. It's been a wonderful few days for the Basque club, after reaching the Copa del Rey final.
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With that De Jong change, Pedri has moved to a more central position. It remains goalless in Bilbao in the fixture of the weekend in LaLiga.
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OFF De Jong
ON Fermin
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De Jong is carried off to applause from San Mamés.
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De Jong tries to walk on it but can't and he will be replaced. Fermin looks to be the player that will come on in his place.
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Frenkie de Jong is down after an aerial challenge with Athletic's Unai Gómez. It looks like he went over on his ankle.
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The ball falls toUnai Gómez on the edge of the box.He shoots and in comes De Jong to block the effort. The Dutchman reads the situation superbly.
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Koundé!
De Jong's cross comes in from the right... Koundé flicks it towards goal from 18 yards out but it flies wide.
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After a lively opening ten minutes, it remains goalless.
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Paredes fouls Raphinha and Barcelona have a free on the right. But it's a fair distance out. Christensen gets on the end of Gundogan's cross but can't keep his header down.
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Berenguer fires a low shot into the side netting and has been flagged for offside.
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The last time these sides met was in the Copa del Rey at San Mamés. The tie had to be decided in extra time, where Athletic defeatedBarça.
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Cancelo gets down the left and finds Gundogan, who plays Pedri in in the inside left channel but the Spaniard can't keep hold ofthe ball.
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It's a full house tonight as Barcelona visit Athletic. It's one of the classic LaLiga fixtures.
Athletic are playing from left to right in their famous red and white strip.
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Barcelona get thingsgoing!
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It's a sea of red and white tonight, with the odd Barcelona scarf here and there.
We're about to get underway!
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Here come the teams!
What an atmosphere once again at San Mamés!
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The players are in the tunnel!
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Barcelona XI
Barcelona
- goalkeeper
- 1Ter Stegen
- defenders
- 23Koundé
- 4Ronald Araújo
- 33Pau Cubarsí
- 2Cancelo
- midfielders
- 22Gündogan
- 15A. Christensen
- 21Frenkie De Jong
- forwards
- 8Pedri
- 9Lewandowski
- 11Raphinha
- substitutes
- CoachXavier Hernández Creuss
- 14João Félix
- 38Marc Guiu
- 39Hector Fort
- 31Diego Kochen
- 16Fermín López
- 18Oriol Romeu
- 19Vitor Roque
- 20Sergi Roberto
- 27Lamine Yamal
- 5Íñigo Martínez
- 13Iñaki Peña
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Athletic XI
Athletic
- goalkeeper
- 1Unai Simón
- defenders
- 4Aitor Paredes
- 24Benat Prados
- 19Imanol Garcia
- 5Yeray
- midfielders
- 30Unai Gómez
- 14Dani García
- 7Berenguer
- 6Vesga
- 9Williams
- forwards
- 12Guruzeta
- substitutes
- CoachErnesto Valverdes
- 20Villalibre
- 8O. Sancet
- 22Raúl García
- 13Julen Agirrezabala
- 18De Marcos
- 10Muniain
- 23Malcom Adu
- 16Ruiz de Galarreta
- 32Hugo Rincón
- 27Unai Egiluz
- 15Lekue
- 31Mikel Jauregizar
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Kick-off is just five minutes away!
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The respect between Xavi and Valverde.
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And in the least-surprising news of the night, the rain is coming down in Bilbao.
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Tonight will be the third game between the sides this season. In the first gameat Montjuïc, it was Marc Guiu's first touch of the ball on his debut in the top flight that decided the game late on.
In the Copa del Reyquarter-finalplayed in San Mamés, the tie had to be decided in extra time, where Athletic defeatedBarça.
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Athletic Club vs Barcelona
A huge night in Bilbao!
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The Catalans are eight points clear of the Basques, who are the ones threatening the Champions League places. A win at La Catedral would be a giant step towards a place in Europe's elite next season.
Despite the fact that the Blaugrana have yet to lose a game so far this season in LaLiga away from home, Athletic are a tough nut to crackin front of their home fans.
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Xavi to take sabbatical
Xavi Hernández has reportedly decided to take ayear out when he steps down as Barça head coach this summer. The Terrassa-born coach has been involved in football first-team for 26years. From 1998 to 2015, he played in the Barça first team and from there he jumped to Al Sadd, where he continued his career as a footballer and then began his coaching career in 2019.With two children, the coach believes it is time to give some time back to them.
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Subs
Athletic Club:Agirrezabala, De Marcos, Lekue, Egiluz, Rincón Lumbreras, Jauregizar, De Galarreta, Raúl García, Sancet, Muniain, Adu Ares, Villalibre.
Barcelona: Iñaki Peña, Kochen, Fort, Sergi Roberto, Iñigo Martínez, Oriol Romeu, Fermín López, Lamine Yamal, Marc Guiu,João Félix, Vitor Roque.
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Xavi Hernándezonly makes one change and it is the return of Pedri, who comes back in place of João Félix. Pau Cubarsí remains in the centre of defence and Raphinha will starton the wing.
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Athletic suspensions
Dani Vivian is serving a suspension, and Nico Williams, who was sent off against Real Betis, also misses out tonight.Unai Simón is back between the sticks after being restedin the Copa del Rey.
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Barcelona XI
Xavi has gone with the following XI:
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Athletic XI
Here you have it:
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Today's venue
San Mamés is a beaut and they create one of the best atmospheres in Spain.
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Iñaki Williams
The Ghana internationalis enjoying one of his best ever seasons with Athletic. Hescored a goal and set up another to help his club book their placein the Copa final. The 29-year-old nowhas 11 goals and 5 assists this season.
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Barcelona on the road
Barcelona will play in white tonight.
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San Mamés, a fortress
Athletic are looking for an 8th consecutive victory at home!
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Sunday's game at San Mamés is a huge testfor Xavi's Barcelona. A win could keep themin the LaLiga title race for now, although they may have already done enough damage to themselves. A more realistic draw or defeat could leave the Blaugrana in a tough spot.
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Athletic come into this game after defeatingAtlético 3-0 at San Mamés in the Copa del Rey on Thursday to book their place in this year's Copa del Rey final. It will be interesting to see if Ernesto Valverde makes many changes after the crucial winin Bilbao.
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Athletic Club vs FC Barcelona: welcome!
Hello and welcome to AS USA's live coverage of this LaLiga classicbetween Athletic Club and FC Barcelona.
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