Ivan Rakitic in misery: a goal from the Croatian midfielder gave a 1-0 victory to FC Barcelona, author of a poor performance, Tuesday night against Athletic Bilbao, which however allows the Blaugranas to come back ahead in front of Real Madrid, which is scheduled to play Wednesday night on the 31st day of La Liga.
Rakitic, author of a second good match on Tuesday after his performance in Seville against his former club on Friday, allowed Barça to avoid drowning on Tuesday at Camp Nou, scoring his first goal in over fifteen months in the Catalan jersey ( 71st)… But that was not enough to hide the bad match of the Barcelonians, whose first place could be only very provisional, Real Madrid receiving Wednesday the 18th, Mallorca.
[📺 VIDEO SUMMARY] 🇪🇸 #LaLiga
👉 A small Barça wins against Bilbao
🔥 Rakitic saves the Blaugrana by entering the game
📊 The Catalans are provisionally leaders pending the Real Madrid matchhttps: //t.co/T5uVleRPgP
Despite this timid saving goal, Blaugrana fans are worried: has Barça already lost its psychological battle against Real? After the draw conceded at Sevilla FC on Friday (0-0), the Catalans, helpless on Tuesday, allowed Madrid to build up confidence for the final sprint that represents this title race.
"It was undoubtedly the match that we controlled the least in the first period," summarized Quique Setién in a post-match press conference. We rushed. Usually, we always try to control the game a little more. It's very important for us to defend with the ball, but sometimes it's not easy… Mentally, you have to be cool and make the right decisions . It is not easy. "
Catalans pessimistic for the title
"Given our last two games, I think it will be very difficult to win this Liga. I do not see where Real Madrid will lose points. This draw puts us in a position where winning the title will no longer depend on us, ”already predicted Catalan defender Gerard Pique after the draw in Seville on Friday, at the microphone of Movistar +.
And Tuesday evening, Pique, visibly touched at the adductors at the end of the match, was right: lukewarm for two games after his 4-0 in Mallorca by way of recovery, Barça failed to set up the beautiful game promised by his new technician Quique Setién, appointed in January.
No magic for "MSG"
During his official enthronement after the dismissal of Ernesto Valverde on January 12, Setién had declared that he could not promise results, but had launched: "I promise that we will play well".
Despite the return of the "MSG" trio, Messi - Suarez - Griezmann, on the front line of the Blaugrana attack on Tuesday, no magic has operated within the Catalan formation, numbed by the beautiful resistance offered by the Basques. Lionel Messi will still have to wait to register his 700th career goal.
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