Barca failed to win their third consecutive La Liga match.

Goals: Munir El Haddadi 84' - Oscar De Marcos 41'

Leaving Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets on the bench, in preparation for the Champions League match against Tottenham next week, was a somewhat overconfident decision by coach Ernesto Valverde. Bilbao is not an easy opponent in La Liga, and Barca once again missed the opportunity to secure all three points.

Lacking their key attacking star, Barca also lost their sharpness in finishing. The home team dominated possession for most of the game but couldn't find a way to convert their chances into goals. The most notable moment was Arturo Vidal's through pass to Luis Suarez, who broke free and faced goalkeeper Unai Simon, but his shot was blocked.

Despite numerous attacks, Barca failed to score and paid the price. In the 41st minute, following a mistake by center-back Gerard Pique who was slow to advance to the offside trap, Oscar De Marcos comfortably tapped the ball in from close range to open the scoring for Bilbao.

Trailing in the first half left Barca with no choice but to make changes. Immediately after the break, Busquets and Messi came on from the bench. From this point on, the home team's attack became sharper and more effective.

Barca could have equalized in the 62nd minute with a bit more luck. In an attack stemming from a cross from the right wing, Philippe Coutinho rattled the Bilbao goalpost with a volley that hit the crossbar. Suarez fared no better, his follow-up shot going off balance and straight into the hands of goalkeeper Simon.

Amidst the impatience of the Barca fans, even Messi couldn't find his best finishing touch. Two of his three shots in the second half hit opposing defenders, while the second struck the post.

Tens of thousands of spectators at the Nou Camp had to wait until the 84th minute to breathe a sigh of relief. Under pressure from time and the result, Messi once again played a decisive role with his sharp passes. After the first cross was cleared by goalkeeper Simon, the Barca captain quickly delivered a second cross, allowing El Haddadi – who came on as a substitute for Ousmane Dembele in the 80th minute – to tap in from close range, leveling the score at 1-1.

Avoiding defeat is a positive result for Barca, but it once again raises concerns among fans about their form crisis. The draw against Bilbao was Barca's third consecutive winless match in La Liga, following their wins against Girona (2-2) and Leganes (1-2).

With 14 points, Valverde's team could lose their top spot after this round. Real Madrid, being only one point behind, could jump to first place if they beat Atletico in the derby.