Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao, La Liga: Final Score 4-0, Barça cruise to an easy victory at Camp Nou

 

Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images

Barcelona ended the month of February in style and will remain in La Liga Top 4 another week thanks to a powerful 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou. Barça faced a weak rival but remained at the top level and played solid football for 90 minutes, scoring four excellent goals to collect three points and continue to look strong in the Champions League.

First Half

Marcelino García Toral made a few changes to the Athletic team heading into the Copa del Rey semi-final next Wednesday, so his gameplan with such a weak team was an attempt to frustrate Barça's attack and take it 0-0 in the second half. And he almost succeeded in that strategy.

Without scoring more than 75% in the first half, Barça were not at the best level of attack and are struggling to create more effective attacks due to a combination of damage in the last third and a good, strong defensive defense made by the visitors. Barça always created one real chance with open play, when Gavi found himself alone inside the box after passing through Ferran Torres but missed the goal completely and sent the ball high into the sky at the Camp Nou.

Although it did not have the best players attacking the pitch in the first half, Bilbao had some moments due to defensive failures made by Barça defenders who did not select the best times to raise their level and left too much. spaces that would be exploited by a talented team.

As we approached the break, it looked like Athletic would find a way to keep Barça away from their net, but the Blaugrana got a win on the egg: Dani Alves sent a corner in the box, Gerard Piqué sent a powerful header. on the crossbar, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang responded faster than anyone else and voted for an open house.

During the break Barça were not at the top level but were still leading by one important goal, however they had to improve as Athletic would not give up and get a chance to get big shots off the bench in the second half.

CHAPTER TWO

Barça have always been at the forefront of the second half, working well with top Athletic media and better controlling the opposition, and they should have done it 2-0 when Ferran found himself alone in front of the goalkeeper. after Bilbao's defensive error, but he shot straight at Unai Simón and missed a great chance.

Torres was soon replaced by Ousmane Dembélé, who stepped in with Frenkie De Jong to try and put the game to bed. They both had an immediate impact on their movement and quality in football, and Dembélé scored an amazing goal with a rocket on the roof of the net from a solid spot inside the box to double Barça's lead.

Athletic sent Iñaki Williams onto the pitch in the hope that his star striker would pull the trigger to make the game interesting at the last minute, but Barça was in control and added two more goals thanks to Dembélé's good use. , who set the plate for both Luuk De Jong and Memphis Depay to score on the bench in overtime.

The final whistle came, and the Blaugrana continue to hold on to fourth place and have a game in hand for all the teams around the table, and they look better and stronger under Xavi wtih every game.

As Eminem would say, behind Barca. Tell a friend.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Alves, Araujo, Piqué, Dest; Gavi (F. De Jong 67 ’), Busquets (Nico 86’), Pedri; Adam (Memphis 82 ’), Aubameyang (L. De Jong 86’), Ferran (Dembélé 67 ’)

Goals: Aubameyang (37 ’), Dembélé (73’), L. De Jong (90 ’), Memphis (90 + 3’)

Athletics: Simón; Lekue, Vivian, Yeray (Martínez 46 ’), Balenziaga; Zarraga (N. Williams 67 ’), Vencedor, Vesga (García 67’), Sererrano; García (Sancet 46 ’), Villalibre (I. Williams 77’)

Goals: None