Spanish La Liga: Athletic Bilbao vs. Barcelona – Half Time Report (Part 1)
Athletic Bilbao were hosting Barcelona at their home ground, "San Mames." The two clubs go way back when it comes down to history. It was Barcelona who found themselves 11 goals down when Athletic Bilbao won the match 12-1 against the Catalan team back in 1930-1931.
Last year it was Athletic Bilbao who managed to draw the match against Barcelona right in the last minute when a fabulous strike from Javi Martinez managed to find the net in the 93rd minute of the game.
The host team were playing a classic 4-4-2 with Iraizoz playing between the two poles as he wore his number 1 jersey. Iraola, San Jose, Amorebieta and Aurtenexte were the four defenders helping him in defending the goal. The four midfielders that featured for the home team were Gurpegi, Javi Martinez, Orbaiz and Gabilondo. There two strikers were the Spanish striker Llorente and Igor Martnez.
It was raining in San Mames when both the teams took their place. Barcelona were playing a little experimental team, especially with their best man Lionel Messi out, it was hard for Pep Guardiola to decide the first eleven. It was Andres Iniesta who took his place as a right winger while David Villa was on the other side of the striking force. Keita, Xavi and Sergio Busquets featured as regular midfielders while Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Carlos Puyol along with the new signing Adriano were the four defenders. The number 1 choice Victor Valdes took his place between the two poles as he stood steady as a "goal stopper" for the Blaugrana players.
The game started and Barcelona found it difficult to pass the ball around with the "physical" side Athletic Bilbao. Two sliding tackles were taken by Xavi Hernandez and Pedro Rodriguez as soon as the match started and it was simply seen that Barcelona were against a very "tough" and physical side.
A wonderful ball was driven in by Keita towards David Villa who was onside and one-on-one with the goalkeeper but he lost the ball very easily and slipped to give Athletic Bilbao a goal kick. Even though Barcelona started with a slow start, they showed that they were a threat up front even without the little Argentinean, Lionel Messi.
Andres Iniesta got the ball during the 9th minute and it was wonderfully controlled by him while backing it towards the Brazilian left back, Adriano who tried to shoot the ball into the net but couldn't really find the target.
Now Barcelona were taking control of the game and moving the ball around well and it was Xavi Hernandez in the very next minute who managed to find Keita and the ball was struck right onto the goalkeeper.
The home side was finding it difficult to penetrate Barcelona's defence, however they started to attack but never actually found the net till the 12th minute of the game while Barcelona were still using their usual "tiki taka" football technique.
Soon in the 13th minute, David Villa got a wonderful change right inside the penalty area, and the goal scoring machine only managed to find the pole and another chance was thrown away by the visitors.
The first chance for the home side came in the 23rd minute when their best striker Llorente took a shot on target which actually marked their first shot on goal. It was easy for Barcelona number 1 and he saved it and the Catalan giants managed to make a counter attack.
On the other hand Pedro took a shot on goal the very next minute and it was Iniesta who found the deflected ball but no one managed to score as no one really found the cross that he managed to put in the short D.
Barcelona were dominant throughout the first 25 minutes of the first half and they were totally dominant with 8 shots on goal compared to Bilbao's 1 shot on goal. However, the home side tried to build up from the centre for scoring goals.
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