• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Trending:
  • Kashmir
  • Elections
Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Daily Times

Your right to know

  • HOME
  • Latest
  • Iran-Israel Tensions
  • Pakistan
    • Balochistan
    • Gilgit Baltistan
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
    • Punjab
    • Sindh
  • World
  • Editorials & Opinions
    • Editorials
    • Op-Eds
    • Commentary / Insight
    • Perspectives
    • Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Featured
    • Blogs
      • Pakistan
      • World
      • Ramblings
      • Lifestyle
      • Culture
      • Sports
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • E-PAPER
    • Lahore
    • Islamabad
    • Karachi

AFP

Depay rescues draw for Barcelona in Bilbao

Barcelona were given a torrid time by Athletic Bilbao but escaped from their trip to San Mames with a point as Memphis Depay’s superb late strike secured a 1-1 draw for the Catalans on Saturday.

Depay found the net with a fine left-foot half-volley 15 minutes from time in the Basque Country for his first goal in La Liga since moving to Barcelona from Lyon.

Ronald Koeman’s side had impressed in their first match of the post-Lionel Messi era as they beat Real Sociedad 4-2 last weekend, but they were fortunate to depart with a point from this game and it was impossible to avoid questions about the Argentine at full-time.

“I don’t like to always talk about the same thing but he is the best in the world and the opposition might be more afraid if Messi is there,” Koeman admitted.

“For us too, if there is a pass to Leo, normally he doesn’t lose the ball, and today we gave the ball away too often in the first half.

“You notice it, but that’s how it is, it can’t be changed now.”

It was a difficult night for Barcelona’s defence in particular, with Gerard Pique coming off after half an hour and Eric Garcia being sent off in stoppage time for bringing down Inaki Williams.

Former Manchester City defender Garcia received news of his grandfather’s death before the match and struggled throughout the 90 minutes, allowing Inigo Martinez to get away from him to head in the opener early in the second half.

“He is a great professional to play so well in a game after the death of his grandfather. We wish him all the best in his personal situation,” said Koeman, who insisted the draw was the right result.

Athletic, though, will feel they should have won despite missing several key players, among them goalkeeper Unai Simon, who has not featured at the start of this season after helping Spain reach the Euro 2020 semi-finals and then the final of the Tokyo Olympics.

Barcelona were unchanged from their opening victory meaning another start for Pedri, the brilliant young midfielder who also played at Euro 2020 and the Olympics and is now set to get a two-week holiday.

Martin Braithwaite, who netted twice against Real Sociedad, missed an early sitter for the visitors when he blazed over after great play by Depay.

Athletic, with 11,000 of their fans allowed into the 53,000-capacity San Mames for this game as coronavirus restrictions are gradually loosened in la Liga, then saw OihanSancet turn and crash a shot off the crossbar from 12 yards out.

Pique then came off to be replaced by Ronald Araujo, suggesting Koeman should not have played the centre-back who had reportedly been struggling with a minor injury before the game.

Athletic were seeking revenge for their 4-0 loss to Messi’s Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final last April and they went ahead in the 50th minute when Martinez attacked a corner quite magnificently, getting ahead of Garcia to divert the ball into the far corner.

While Garcia played for Spain at the European Championship, fellow centre-back Martinez opted not to join Luis Enrique’s squad because he wasn’t “at 100 percent physically or mentally”.

Koeman responded by withdrawing Braithwaite and Pedri and sending on Sergi Roberto as well as Yusuf Demir, the 18-year-old Austrian international signed in July on loan from Rapid Vienna.

Frenkie de Jong hit the bar with a brilliant attempted lob before Depay levelled a quarter of an hour from time, controlling Sergi Roberto’s ball over the tap and crashing a brilliant strike past goalkeeper JulenAgirrezabala at his near post.

Garcia then denied Athletic a chance of a last-gasp winner as he chopped down Williams just outside the area.

Elsewhere, Carlos Soler’s late penalty allowed Valencia to leave Granada with a 1-1 draw, while last season’s Europa League winners Villarreal were held 0-0 at Espanyol.

Promoted Mallorca are level with Barcelona and Valencia on four points after winning 1-0 at Alaves with a late Fer Nino goal.

Reigning champions Atletico Madrid host Elche on Sunday before Real Madrid go to Levante.

Filed Under: Sports

Submit a Comment




Primary Sidebar




Latest News

Archer Eager to Play Remaining India Tests and Ashes Series

PCB launches new three-tier cricket format for 2025-26 season

Trump warns Putin as EU struggles on Russia sanctions

UN chief calls for calm, civilian safety amid Syria crisis

Blasts rock Gaza as ceasefire talks face setbacks

Pakistan

Govt plans major cut in solar tariff to save billions

Heavy rain batters Lahore, more downpour expected today

Petrol, diesel prices jump again amid global oil pressure

Govt raises fuel prices again for next fortnight

Normalisation of arbitrary force unacceptable, Pakistan tells SCO

More Posts from this Category

Business

Govt presents ‘compelling evidence’ of economic recovery to Moody’s

‘Generational benefits’ from Reko Diq mines will uplift Balochistan: Barrick CEO

PSX turns bearish, loses 562 points

Gold prices dip by Rs700

Commerce minister meets UK trade envoy

More Posts from this Category

World

Trump warns Putin as EU struggles on Russia sanctions

UN chief calls for calm, civilian safety amid Syria crisis

Blasts rock Gaza as ceasefire talks face setbacks

More Posts from this Category




Footer

Home
Lead Stories
Latest News
Editor’s Picks

Culture
Life & Style
Featured
Videos

Editorials
OP-EDS
Commentary
Advertise

Cartoons
Letters
Blogs
Privacy Policy

Contact
Company’s Financials
Investor Information
Terms & Conditions

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Youtube

© 2025 Daily Times. All rights reserved.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.