It was not the best party of the season and again the feelings were more than just. Especially in a second ignominious part. But the Barcelona added the three points and consolidates in the highest of the table. The goals of Leo Messi and Paulinho allow to the ones of Valverde accumulate already 28 points of 30 possible. 

The Barcelona was fully conscious of which party would find in Saint Mamés. An Athletic with high pressure, intense, aggressive in the lines of pass... And dared to take advantage of his power in the aerial game. And the script fulfilled , because Aduriz had until two clear opportunities in the first 20 minutes, but Ter Stegen avoided that the lions advanced .

The ones of Ziganda treated to prevent that Messi received with comfort, and without Iniesta to the Barcelona cost them generate game. It had to be Busquets, from further back that Rakitic, the one who began the played. The midfield player gave a clínic of placing and tactical intelligence, whereas Paulinho worked without stopping in the medullary. The one who did not find his gap was André Gomes, again slow of ideas and of execution of the same.

To measure that were happening the minutes, Leo Messi found more hollow to go down to receive. And it did it. And then it changed everything. Because the Argentinian was a constant threat for the Basque defence. Anybody could detain him and in the minute 36 an action that began in his feet finish in the goal of Kepa. Leo connected with Alba, that confined by the left band like exhalation and the side put a centre measured inside the area so that the '10' put the 0-1. The one of always. The connection that never fails.

The Barça went by up to the rest and could have increased the difference if Paulinho had hit in another fantastic action of Messi, that left it to him almost given so that the Brazilian defined, but the balloon crashed in the crosshead.

Second part suffered

The go through changing rooms did not help too much to the Barcelona, that went out slept, leaving that the Athletic had the possession of balloon and went upwards. The ones of Ziganda believed it to him and during the ten first minutes of the second part did not stop to attack, crashing a balloon to the crossbar.

With Rakitic and Gomes disappeared in fight, the team of Valverde lost the control in the centre of the field and did not generate at all in attack. Neither so at least Messi could appear to sentence the meeting, while the venues believed able of empatar. They tried it to the end but they could not it achieve. Paulinho, already in the discount, did the 1-2 definite.

The Barcelona adds already 28 points of 30 possible and follows keeping a good income like leader in solitary of the League. The best? The defensive solidity. Another party more with the goal to zero. The Barça will play next Tuesday in front of the Olympiacos to finish to certify his pass to eighth of final. 

Technical index card of the party: Athletic-FC Barcelona 0-2

  • Athletic: Kepa; Vault, Núñez, Laporte, Lekue; Saint José, Iturraspe; Williams (Susaeta, min 82), R. García, Córdoba; and Aduriz
  • FC Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Roberto, Hammered, Umtiti, Alba; Busquets, Paulinho, Rakitic, Suárez, Messi and Gomes (Semedo, min 82).
  • Goals of the party: 0-1 Messi (min 36) and 0-2 Paulinho (min 92).
  • Referee: Martínez Munuera (Valencian school).
  • Incidences: corresponding Party to the tenth day of LaLiga Santander 2017-2018.

News stood out of the Athletic-FC Barcelona 0-2

Next party: Olympiacos-FC Barcelona (Fourth day of Champions).