On September 13, 2014, Barcelona hosted Athletic Club at the Camp Nou in a La Liga fixture. Barcelona secured a comfortable 2-0 victory, with Neymar coming off the bench to score both goals in the second half, continuing the team’s unbeaten start to the 2014-15 season.
Key Statistics and Analysis
- Scoreline and Goal Timings:
- Barcelona: 2 (Neymar 79′, 84′)
- Athletic Club: 0
- Possession:
- Barcelona dominated possession with 71%, while Athletic Club had 29%. Barcelona’s control of the ball allowed them to dictate the pace and patiently break down Athletic Club’s defensive setup.
- Shots:
- Barcelona registered 12 shots, with 6 on target, showing their ability to create dangerous opportunities despite Athletic Club’s defensive resilience. Athletic Club managed 8 shots, with 4 on target, but they struggled to capitalize on their chances.
- Passing Accuracy:
- Barcelona had a passing accuracy of 91%, completing 720 passes out of 792 attempts. Athletic Club had a passing accuracy of 73%, completing 229 passes out of 314 attempts. Barcelona’s superior ball control and intricate passing patterns kept Athletic Club pinned back for much of the match.
- Defensive Statistics:
- Barcelona made 9 tackles compared to Athletic Club’s 21, reflecting Athletic’s attempt to disrupt Barcelona’s rhythm. Despite their defensive efforts, Athletic Club struggled to contain Barcelona’s attack in the final stages of the match.
- Set Pieces:
- There were no goals from set pieces in this game. Both of Barcelona’s goals came from open play. The breakthrough came in the 79th minute when Neymar, who had come on as a substitute, finished a well-worked move after a clever pass from Lionel Messi. Neymar doubled Barcelona’s lead in the 84th minute, again assisted by Messi, after a quick counter-attack.
- Individual Performances:
- Neymar was the standout performer, coming off the bench to score both of Barcelona’s goals. Lionel Messi was also crucial, providing the assists for both goals and orchestrating much of Barcelona’s attacking play. For Athletic Club, goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz made several key saves to keep the scoreline close until the final stages, while defender Aymeric Laporte stood out with his positioning and interceptions.
- Tactical Overview:
- Barcelona, under Luis Enrique, deployed a 4-3-3 formation, with Messi playing a free role across the front line. They used their possession to wear down Athletic Club’s defense and waited for the right moments to strike. Athletic Club, managed by Ernesto Valverde, set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, defending deep and trying to hit Barcelona on the counter-attack. However, Athletic struggled to create many clear-cut chances and were ultimately undone by Barcelona’s quality in the final third.
- Disciplinary:
- The match saw two yellow cards, both for Athletic Club. Carlos Gurpegui was booked in the 55th minute, and Mikel Balenziaga received a yellow card in the 88th minute for fouls aimed at stopping Barcelona’s attacking play.
- Corners and Offsides:
- Barcelona won 8 corners compared to Athletic Club’s 3, reflecting their sustained pressure in the attacking third. Barcelona were caught offside twice, while Athletic Club were caught offside once.
Summary
Barcelona’s 2-0 victory over Athletic Club was a result of patience and quality, with Neymar coming off the bench to make the difference in the second half. The match was largely dominated by Barcelona’s possession and control, but Athletic Club’s defensive discipline kept the game level until the final 15 minutes. Neymar’s two well-taken goals, both assisted by Lionel Messi, ultimately secured the three points for the Catalan side.
Lionel Messi’s influence was key, as he created both goals with moments of brilliance, while Neymar’s finishing ensured that Barcelona remained unbeaten in the league. Athletic Club, despite a resilient defensive effort, were unable to threaten Barcelona’s goal enough to take anything from the game.
This result kept Barcelona’s strong start to the season intact, with Luis Enrique’s side looking organized and confident. For Athletic Club, the loss highlighted their inability to cope with Barcelona’s attacking power in the latter stages of the match, despite a solid defensive display for much of the game.
