After Real Madrid had overcome Celta with a 95th-minute winner on Friday night, Hansi Flick and his squad knew that three points were a must at San Mames if they were to keep their four-point lead over the eternal rivals.
Ernesto Valverde’s side went into the match on the back of a five-match unbeaten league run, however, they’d won only two of their last seven games at home.
Barca had lost their last two away matches, and if they were to make it a hat-trick of defeats in Bilbao, not only would it hand
Los Blancos a lifeline in La Liga, but it would also represent three away league losses in a row for the first time since 2021.
Let’s take a look at three talking points from the game against Los Leones…
Casado gets another chance
With so many options in midfield, Hansi Flick has an embarrassment of riches to choose from.
Gavi will soon be back from injury to add to the roster, meaning that Marc Casado needed to be right on his game against Athletic to send a timely reminder of his quality.
In the first half, particularly, which was a little industrial at times, Casado’s tigerish challenges and willingness to fight for every ball were a worthwhile endeavour, and allowed his teammates to consistently build their attacks.
For a player with so little game time under his belt this season, the 22-year-old did himself no harm at all with the standard of his performance.
Can’t keep relying on Joan Garcia to bail Barca out
Sooner or later, Barca are going to come up against a side that is not only able to consistently beat what is a poor offside trap, but will also take their chances when presented with them.
Athletic seemed to find it all too easy to get in behind, and if their finishing wasn’t the best at times, that takes nothing away from how many times Joan Garcia had to stand tall and repel the danger.
The worry is that the defence will come to rely upon the custodian far too often, and neglect their own duties as a result.
Deadly Yamal the difference-maker, again
You just can’t keep a good man down!
So much is expected of Lamine Yamal on a weekly basis, and it’s to the youngster’s great credit that most weeks he comes up with the goods.
Against Athletic, he was very quiet by his own standards, and then, one moment of magic and – boom! Game over.
His finishing is getting better and better. That’s now 50 career goals and 19 for the season already in all competitions for Barcelona.
It’s just what he does, and what all great players do.
A genuine game changer.
