Athletic knew how to compete yesterday at the Camp Nou, but the defeat that is usually common in the Barça coliseum was brought to Bilbao. Gaizka Garitano revolutionized the eleven to give rest to his usual men and the team responded, especially in the first half, when the rojiblancos were better and had opportunities before the goal defended by Ter Stegen. Already in the second half, Barça squeezed more forcefully, more by push and heart than by good football, and finally took the three points thanks to a goal from Rakitic before which he could do nothing Unai Simon.
1-0 and another negative result against the culé team on their pitch. It has been the norm for a long time. Specifically, since November 24, 2001, when those then directed by Jupp Heynckes They took the win 1-2. Urzaiz he passed the lions in 10 ’, Rivaled put the balance on the scoreboard at 58 ’and Ezquerro He scored the three-point goal with ten minutes to go before regulatory time.
Since then, the data is bleeding for the whole of San Mamés: 15 losses and 3 draws in the last 18 seasons. The lions managed to tie one last season (From Marcos from Bilbao and Munir by the locals), to break a series of 14 campaigns losing in the Barcelona fief.
The most painful results in this period were those suffered in the 2015-16 (6-0), 2012-13 (5-1) and 2009-10 (4-1) campaigns. After winning in 2001-02, they tied for the next two courses (2-2 on 02-03 and 1-1 on 03-04).
The goal data is also very illuminating how things have gone. 45 have marked Barça and 10 Athletic in this time of almost 19 years. AND Messi He has scored 10 of the targets materialized by his team. Yesterday he could not celebrate his 33rd birthday with a goal today. If I had beaten Unai Simon, He would have reached 700 points in his entire sports career in the elite, either wearing the Barça shirt or the albiceleste of the Argentine team.