After losing the last game against Leganés there were 2 clear things:

Messi can not play all the positions.
Valverde can not rotate without causing a disaster.

The rotations this season are a priority for Valverde, who last year could not close the campaign in the best way because of the physical condition of his players. On Saturday, it was Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquest turn to face an always complicated Athletic Bilbao that has not won at the Camp Nou since 2001, but this time it would be very close.

The high pressure of Athletic with a suffocating mark on each man worked at the start and the Catalans were not comfortable on the field, with Messi on the bench the most dangerous player was Luis Suarez, who was active on the attack front and had his chance to fail a one on one in front of Unai Simón.

In the 40th minute, the Athletic took the lead, De Marcos enabled by a lost Piqué, would kick a Susaeta center to finish the first half with the goal that meant the momentary victory of Bilbao.

Valverde would not take long to get Messi and Busquest to the field, only 2 minutes after starting the second half. The Athletic would back down to endure the onslaughts of a rested Messi, who would first warn with a shot to the post and then they would take a free kick from the goal line. Barcelona saw the time pass and could not find the equalizer, with 10 minutes left to finish the match Munir would enter to the field to put the 1 to 1 after a great play by Leo Messi.

With this one, there would be three consecutive games that Barcelona has without winning, I do not know if “crisis” is the word but Valverde’s picture is not working and on Wednesday he has to face a dangerous and needy Tottenham for the Champions League.