FC Barcelona missed the chance to move up to second spot on the LaLiga table after a goalless draw with Athletic Bilbao on Sunday evening.
Not too many changes but just a single one from Barca showed compared to the team that won 4-0 against Getafe last weekend, with Pedri restored in the place of Joao Felix.
Danish international Andreas Christensen could’ve had the Catalans with a header from a long-range free-kick by Ilkay Gundogan, but he was unable to keep it on target.
Barca were forced into a substitution in the 26th minute after Frenkie De Jong experienced a lot of discomfort and made way for Fermin Lopez.
The Blaugrana still looked lively and nearly had the lead four minutes later through a long-range drive from Joao Cancelo with the defence out of position, but it was cleared off the line.
Yet another forced introduction were needed from the visiting team on the stroke of halftime after Pedri limped similarly to De Jong before making way for Lamine Yamal.
Bilbao looked to take the game by the scruff of the neck and almost got ahead when Inaki Williams came short to the edge of the box before dragging well over the top of target.
At the other end, strong defending from Aitor Paredes denied the Catalans a route in and in particular Gundogan and Cancelo to make use of a goal-mouth scramble in the box.
However, both teams didn’t have a sustained spell of clear-cut chances in the attacking third and for the better part turned possession over repeatedly.
It then finished goalless as the Catalans missed the chance to go second on the table ahead of Girona and put pressure on the leaders Real Madrid.
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