1/27/2008
sportinglife.com

Barcelona's Primera Liga title hopes were severely dented on Sunday as the Catalans were held to a disappointing draw at Athletic Bilbao.

Bojan Krkic put Barca ahead 10 minutes before half-time, but Fernando Llorente shocked the visitors with a late leveller which sees Frank Rijkaard's side lose even more ground on leaders Real Madrid.

Rijkaard restored Lionel Messi to the line-up for his first start since picking up an injury in mid-December, but the Argentina forward saw little of the ball early on as Athletic began with their usual intensity.

Javi Martinez won a corner after just three minutes when his shot was pushed wide by Victor Valdes.

But there was little in the way of goalmouth action early on.

Having witnessed just one Barcelona goal in the last two matches, Rijkaard called for his side to be more direct in the build-up to this match, and the Catalans looked for Messi at every opportunity.

The South American set off on one of his trademark dangerous runs after 10 minutes, but was dispossessed by Koikili Lertxundi.

Messi found space again after 17 minutes, but saw his shot saved by Daniel Aranzubia at the second attempt.

Andres Iniesta – who signed a new contract this week to remain at the Nou Camp until 2014 – then saw his effort deflected wide as Barcelona began to control possession.

But Athletic had their moments too and Carles Puyol did well to clear the ball from Aritz Aduriz as the home side pressed forward.

Valdes was forced to come quickly off his line to gather the ball just as Fran Yeste shaped to shoot on 26 minutes.

The Barcelona goalkeeper then saved easily from Javi Martinez on the half-hour mark as the hosts struggled to create anything tangible from their intense build-up play.

But two minutes later, the Basque side should have taken the lead.

David Lopez squared for Aduriz and the Athletic striker's shot rebounded favourably off his marker, leaving him one on one with Valdes, but the former Valladolid man blasted over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

A minute later, Barcelona took the lead.

Aranzubia came out to clear Messi's long pass, but only succeeded in diverting the ball as far as Deco, who squared for Bojan and the youngster slid a low angled shot into the corner to give the visitors a lead they barely deserved.

Barcelona began better after the break and could have gone two up within 20 seconds of the restart, but Thierry Henry flashed his low shot just wide from the edge of the area.

A minute later, the visitors threatened again and Deco fired just over the bar following good work from Messi.

Joseba Garmendia tried his luck from distance at the other end, but Athletic were struggling to find their rhythm against a Barcelona side happy to soak up the pressure.

The visitors almost added a second on 72 minutes, but Puyol shot just wide from close range.

Despite their narrow advantage, Barcelona looked to be in complete control, but relinquished their lead seven minutes later when Fernando Llorente got ahead of Lilian Thuram to poke Aitor Ramos' right-wing cross past Valdes from close range.

Thuram then twice cleared the danger as Athletic threw everything at Barcelona in the final minutes, but the damage was already done.

The Catalans' title hopes now appear slim as they once again failed to significantly close the gap on Real Madrid.

The draw sees Athletic move a point clear of the bottom three.