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Lionel Messi and Pedri starred as Barcelona got here from behind to beat Athletic Bilbao 3-2 at San Mames on Wednesday as they moved up third in La Liga.
Athletic made a dream begin beneath new coach Marcelino when Inaki Williams opened the scoring within the third minute. Their lead did not final lengthy, although, with Pedri heading in Frenkie de Jong‘s acrobatic pull-back within the 14th minute.
Barca moved forward when Pedri and Messi mixed for the latter to attain earlier than the break and Messi added his twelfth objective of the season within the second half. Iker Muniain scored a late comfort for Athletic however Ronald Koeman’s aspect held on to make it seven video games unbeaten within the league.
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Positives
Barca lastly appear to have an thought of the path they’re heading, with the gamers beginning to look extra conscious of their roles. De Jong is taking duty and getting ahead extra and Ousmane Dembele‘s presence permits them to combine up the best way they play, too. With the Frenchman on the pitch, they can inject tempo and unpredictability right into a recreation.
Nonetheless, probably the most thrilling factor about Barca in the intervening time is the connection between Messi and Pedri. It has been clear for a number of weeks now that they are on an analogous wavelength they usually mixed to good impact once more at San Mames. Pedri’s back-heel to arrange Messi’s first objective was a glowing second.
Negatives
Barca began slowly and appeared uncovered defensively when Athletic attacked. That led to the Williams objective and one other counter ended with the house aspect hitting the aspect netting earlier than Pedri’s leveller.
Supervisor score out of 10
7 — Koeman appeared to have erred dramatically sticking with a again 4 when Athletic tore his aspect open within the first 5 minutes. However Barca took management and it feels as if the Dutch coach is slowly figuring out what his finest aspect is.
Participant scores (1-10; 10 = finest. Gamers launched after 70 minutes get no score)
GK Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 6 — Unsighted on the Williams objective and will do little about Muniain’s late, sensible first-time end.
DF Sergino Dest, 6 — Obtained ahead at any time when doable, lacking one good likelihood, and benefitted from the assistance of Dembele, who moved again to the right-wing.
DF Ronald Araujo, 7 — A powerful efficiency offered additional proof that he has not been affected by the error he made in opposition to Eibar.
DF Clement Lenglet, 6 — Was overwhelmed too simply by Williams for the primary objective however appeared to be taught his lesson as he improved from there.
DF Jordi Alba, 6 — Not as concerned in assault as in earlier video games however nonetheless obtained ahead to assist Barca construct a numerical benefit.
MF Sergio Busquets, 6 — A troublesome job on the base of the midfield in an attacking aspect however did nicely.
MF Frenkie de Jong, 8 — Has come on leaps and bounds in latest weeks and is producing the products within the last third. Did brilliantly to arrange Barca’s equaliser to make it two assists and two targets in his final six league video games.
MF Pedri, 9 — Scored one and made one other in one other good show. You need to pinch your self if you keep in mind he is solely simply turned 18.
FW Ousmane Dembele, 7 — Appeared in his aspect within the first half as he toyed with Athletic’s defenders. Introduced two saves out of Unai Simon however it was his velocity from a standing begin that basically caught the eye.
FW Lionel Messi, 9 — At instances, his ending has been lower than his common distinctive finest this season however he was firing in opposition to Athletic. Took his targets nicely, had a 3rd dominated out for offside, and hit the woodwork twice. Additionally performed an important go within the build-up to Pedri’s objective. May have been dissatisfied to provide the ball away loosely forward of Athletic’s second.
FW Antoine Griezmann, 6 — Labored exhausting however did not have as many probabilities as he would love. Arrange some good ones, although, together with one for Dest and Messi’s second objective.
Substitutes
FW Martin Braithwaite, N/R — Left on the bench in La Liga for the primary time since November, he got here on for Dembele within the latter levels of the sport.
DF Oscar Mingueza, N/R — In what’s turning into a routine change, he changed Dest for the ultimate quarter-hour.
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