Barca struggled to get three points

In the late match of the second round, Barca could only win 1-0 at Bilbao's field.

Ivan Rakitic (right) scored the only goal for Barca. Photo: Reuters

Goal: Ivan Rakitic 21'

The match against Bilbao can be considered one of Barca's least effective attacking performances. Of nearly a dozen scoring opportunities in front of goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz, the Catalan team only took advantage of one. The goal did not come from their usual low ball combination, but from a cross headed by the two midfield specialists Arda Turan and Ivan Rakitic. As for the rest, Luis Suarez and Messi took turns missing, to the surprise of the audience.

The Bilbao game did not impress in terms of goals, but it also brought the result that Barca wanted. After the second round, Barca, Las Palmas and Real are all in the group with six points. Las Palmas currently lead thanks to a better goal difference (+6 compared to +5 and +4).

Compared to the opening match against Betis with a score of 6-2, Barca in the match on the evening of August 28 seemed to want to bring the audience a completely different "dish": the art of missing opportunities. From center-back Umtiti, midfielder Denis, to the two top strikers Luis Suarez and Messi, all had at least one shot that missed the target when unmarked. Barca could have opened the score in the fourth minute if Denis had curled more accurately. In this situation, the new player from Villarreal sent the ball flying two meters off the goal with a lack of feeling. After creating the opportunity that Denis missed, Messi assisted Umtiti in the 36th minute and Turan in the 45th minute but both were unsuccessful. The French center-back volleyed over the bar, while the Turkish star shot wide when facing goalkeeper Iraizoz.

Although he did not score a goal like in the last two matches, Turan still succeeded in maintaining a decisive role in Barca's attack. In the 21st minute, this reluctant striker crossed the ball as if setting it up for Rakitic to head in and score the only goal. The cross was so convenient that it went through the entire Bilbao defense, and at the same time, a player who is not too tall like Rakitic was able to lightly bounce and finish into the corner of the goal.

Barca could have won by more if they hadn't missed so many chances.

Compared to the opening match, Barca's lineup only had one notable change, which was the goalkeeper position. Replacing Claudio Bravo, who had just joined Man City, Marc Andre Ter Stegen caused quite a bit of disappointment for the audience. In the 12th minute, the goalkeeper directly passed the ball to the opponent's feet, leading to a ten-point risk of conceding a goal. Luckily for Barca, Ter Stegen immediately blocked Benat's hasty shot.

Bilbao also had two more chances but missed both. After coming off the bench, Raul Garcia had a powerful shot that went wide of the Barca goal. The midfielder also assisted Williams in the situation that Ter Stegen successfully saved.

After the break, Barca wasted more chances. Messi had two chances to penetrate the penalty area, but both shots went just wide. Similarly, Luis Suarez could have had a hat-trick if he had been more precise with his shots. Most fans were disappointed when the Barca No. 9 had a lacklustre volley in the 56th minute, before curling the ball wide with his left foot after dribbling past two defenders. In injury time, facing a Bilbao goal without a goalkeeper, Suarez even shot off the line and hit a defender's leg.

After the thrilling victory in the second round, Barca will have a two-week break to make way for the international matches. Coach Enrique and his team will return with a match against Alaves in the third round, on September 10.

Messi created four chances for his teammates but not enough to score.

According to VNE