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Match

Marcador del partit

Date: Sunday, 19 Oct
Competition: ???label.competicio0???
Stadium: San Mamés, Bilbao

Resultat:

Ath.Bilbao: 0
FC Barcelona: 1

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Goal

0-1 Eto’o (min 63)

Eto’o goal takes points at San Mames (0-1)

Jordi Clos

Barca chalked up their fifth run on the trot in the league at San Mames this evening thanks to a second half goal from Samuel Eto’o. Guardiola’s men worked hard for their win improving as the game went on and never really giving Bilbao a chance.

This was an important victory and stretched Barca’s run to seven straight wins in all competitions. Both teams tried to impose their contrasting styles on the game, but it was Barca who came out on top. It wasn’t a particularly pretty first half but Eto’o’s goal after a great pass from Henry gave Barca the points in a much brighter second period.

Two styles clash

It was a real clash of styles between Bilbao’s route one football centered on the big centre forward Llorente as their main reference point and Barca’s more thoughtful possession football. It wasn’t easy for the visitors to impose their passing game early on as the Basques put on the pressure and it was Valdes who was soon in the action, keeping out a well hit third minute effort from David Lopez.

Early exchanges

Barca were not slow to reply however, and Eto’o forced a good stop from Iraizoz in the Bilbao goal on 9 minutes with a turn and shot from the edge of the box, Iniesta, who was playing on the right side of attack tried his luck soon after with a left foot strike that flew just over the bar. But just as Guardiola’s team looked most comfortable things turned sour with Keita forced off with a nasty looking injury to be replaced by Busquets. Yeste nearly added to their woes with a great free kick that Valdes turned away for a corner.

Midfield battle

Barca’s midfield was now formed by Busquets, Touré Yaya and Víctor Sánchez – a trio that proved a very tough nut to crack for Bilbao, who lacked the creativity to overcome their hardworking rivals. The second half closed with another chance for Barca when Iraizoz made a great stop to deny an Eto’o effort from close in after a corner.

Eto’o on target again

The second half looked to be off to a brighter start when Iniesta broke down the wing and crossed for Victor Sanchez to shoot and it was the Spanish international who sparked the improvement, dropping deeper as Barca gradually intensified their control and increased their possession further up the field. The increasing domination bore fruit on 63 minutes when Henry cut inside from deep leaving his markers flailing behind him and slipped in a lovely through ball which Eto’o latched onto with his left to fire home an unstoppable volley,

Barca in control

Bilbao were rocking now and Amorebieta very nearly turned an Iniesta cross into his own net and as the home side desperately pushed forward and left gaps at the back Eto’o could have made it two on 81 minutes, but he shot wide with just the keeper to beat. However the miss didn’t matter in the end as Barca controlled the final few minutes to chalk up their seventh successive win.

Preview

Referee will be Undiano Mallenco

The referee for the Athletic Bilbao v FC Barcelona clash will be Undiano Mallenco. He is standing in for Mejuto González, who has picked up an injury.

League’s back with a bang

Anna Segura

Barça are playing Athletic Bilbao (7 pm, R@dio Barça) in one of the League’s classic fixtures. The Catalans are missing Xavi and Gudjohnsen, but do have Hleb back from injury.

After a break for international games, the football first team is to kick off at San Mamés the first of nine games over the next four weeks in the League, King’s Cup and Champions League. There will be another pause for internationals in mid November.

Tough ground

Barça’s last match, the 6-1 thrashing of Atlético Madrid, already seems a dim and distant memory. After international games and just two training sessions with the full squad, Pep Guardiola’s men are today playing a traditionally tough team at an equally tough ground. After the Bernabéu, San Mamés is the most problematic stadium for Barça: out of 77 games, they’ve only won 20, while drawing 16 and losing 41.

No Xavi

A number of players will be sitting out the game, with perhaps the most important absentee being Xavi Hernández. After featuring in the starting XI for six League and two Champions League games, the midfielder has been left out due to hamstring problems.

Pedro and Gudjohnsen, who returned from international duty with injuries, will also miss the game in Bilbao.

Hleb’s back

Although missing these three players, Josep Guardiola is able to call on Alexander Hleb . The Byelorussian is back after being sidelined with injury since the second League game against Racing Santander. Sylvinho, who has been called up for a League game for the first time this season, and Víctor Sánchez will also be at San Mamés this evening.

Last defeat

The last time the Catalans lost in the Cathedral was in the 2005/06 season. It was the final game of the campaign and by that stage Barça was both League and European champion. They went down 3-1 with Eto'o scoring the goal that made him top goal scorer for the season. Last time round the game ended one all with Bojan netting for Barça.

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