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Player Ratings: Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Barcelona
The Blaugrana dropped to second place in the Primera Division after being held to a draw at San Mames. Goal.com takes a close look at how each of the players performed.
Nov 21, 2009 6:39:40 PM
ATHLETIC BILBAO
Iraizoz: 6.5 - Saved well from Messi in the first half but could do nothing to stop Dani Alves's opener.
Iraola: 6.5 - Didn't have an easy job to cope with Iniesta but he did well to keep the winger at bay for large periods of the game.
Ustaritz: 7 - Defended very well and made some crucial interceptions to prevent Barcelona from getting too many clear cut opportunities.
Amorebieta: 6.5 - Decided that the best way to deal with Messi was the physical way and was very fortunate to get away with a dangerously high challenge on the Argentine.
Koikili: 5.5 - Tried to get forward but was relatively ineffective and lost Dani Alves for the opening goal.
Susaeta: 7 - Worked very hard, given more of a free role behind Llorente in the first half and gave Chygrynskiy a lot of problems with his movement.
Gurpegui: 7 - Defensive minded performance but put his body on the line for his team and frustrated Barcelona with his physical play.
Orbaiz: 6.5 - He was in the team to sit in front of the back four and protect the defence and did a reasonable job.
Javi Martinez: 6.5 - Should have scored in first half injury time as he had a free header from close range that didn't even hit the target.
Yeste: 6.5 - There was not much link-up between him and Koikili and the 29-year-old is clearly rusty after coming back from injury. Set pieces were often disappointing.
Llorente: 7 - Not in peak physical condition but used his strength effectively, set up the goal well and worked exceptionally hard.
Substitutes:
Toquero: 8 - It was a brave move by Caparros to bring him on and he was rewarded. He took his goal brilliantly and worked tremendously hard up front.
Gabilondo: 5.5 - He was brought on in the 74th minute and was virtually anonymous on the left flank.
De Marcos: 5.5 - Had around 15 minutes to make his mark on the game and failed to make an impact.
BARCELONA
Valdes: 6.5 - He had little chance with the goal and didn't have much else to deal with in terms of shots, but he was always quick off his line to claim crosss or clear any danger.
Alves: 6 - Bombing forward and took his goal well, but he was also guilty of a defensive lapse as he should have been covering Toquero for the equalizer.
Chygrynskiy: 6 - Played some nice balls but is clearly still adjusting to the league. Usually caught standing square on to his man, meaning that he was often turned very easily.
Pique: 7 - Generally authoritative and dominant, showing his strength as his muscled players off the ball, but he was caught off guard as Toquero stole through.
Maxwell: 6 - Didn't do his chances of more first team football any harm with this performance.
Xavi: 7 - Always keeps Barcelona ticking. He set up the goal with a brilliant pass and made a number of other key passes over the course of the game.
Busquets: 5.5 - Didn't have his best game. He was frequently outmuscled by Llorente and didn't seem able to cope with the physical approach of Athletic.
Keita: 5.5 - He had a great headed chance in the first half but there were few of his typical rampaging runs forward.
Pedro: 6 - Very lively in the first half but faded very quickly as the game went on. Had an opportunity late on but was denied by Gurpegui.
Messi: 6.5 - Looked out of place as a center forward and should have scored in the 16th minute. Set up a number of opportunities for his team-mates but they were unable to capitalize.
Iniesta: 5.5 - Had a very poor game on the left hand side. Clearly still needs to get match fit and is not as sharp as last season.
Substitutes:
Bojan: 5.5 - Had 15 minutes to influence the game - worked hard in attack but a negligable end product.
Henry: N/A - His late introduction was met by whistles from the fans, but he did little during his time on the pitch.
Anthony Wright, Goal.com
For more on Spain click ahead to Goal.com's Spain homepage
Iraizoz: 6.5 - Saved well from Messi in the first half but could do nothing to stop Dani Alves's opener.
Iraola: 6.5 - Didn't have an easy job to cope with Iniesta but he did well to keep the winger at bay for large periods of the game.
Ustaritz: 7 - Defended very well and made some crucial interceptions to prevent Barcelona from getting too many clear cut opportunities.
Amorebieta: 6.5 - Decided that the best way to deal with Messi was the physical way and was very fortunate to get away with a dangerously high challenge on the Argentine.
Koikili: 5.5 - Tried to get forward but was relatively ineffective and lost Dani Alves for the opening goal.
Susaeta: 7 - Worked very hard, given more of a free role behind Llorente in the first half and gave Chygrynskiy a lot of problems with his movement.
Gurpegui: 7 - Defensive minded performance but put his body on the line for his team and frustrated Barcelona with his physical play.
Orbaiz: 6.5 - He was in the team to sit in front of the back four and protect the defence and did a reasonable job.
Javi Martinez: 6.5 - Should have scored in first half injury time as he had a free header from close range that didn't even hit the target.
Yeste: 6.5 - There was not much link-up between him and Koikili and the 29-year-old is clearly rusty after coming back from injury. Set pieces were often disappointing.
Llorente: 7 - Not in peak physical condition but used his strength effectively, set up the goal well and worked exceptionally hard.
Substitutes:
Toquero: 8 - It was a brave move by Caparros to bring him on and he was rewarded. He took his goal brilliantly and worked tremendously hard up front.
Gabilondo: 5.5 - He was brought on in the 74th minute and was virtually anonymous on the left flank.
De Marcos: 5.5 - Had around 15 minutes to make his mark on the game and failed to make an impact.
BARCELONA
Valdes: 6.5 - He had little chance with the goal and didn't have much else to deal with in terms of shots, but he was always quick off his line to claim crosss or clear any danger.
Alves: 6 - Bombing forward and took his goal well, but he was also guilty of a defensive lapse as he should have been covering Toquero for the equalizer.
Chygrynskiy: 6 - Played some nice balls but is clearly still adjusting to the league. Usually caught standing square on to his man, meaning that he was often turned very easily.
Pique: 7 - Generally authoritative and dominant, showing his strength as his muscled players off the ball, but he was caught off guard as Toquero stole through.
Maxwell: 6 - Didn't do his chances of more first team football any harm with this performance.
Xavi: 7 - Always keeps Barcelona ticking. He set up the goal with a brilliant pass and made a number of other key passes over the course of the game.
Busquets: 5.5 - Didn't have his best game. He was frequently outmuscled by Llorente and didn't seem able to cope with the physical approach of Athletic.
Keita: 5.5 - He had a great headed chance in the first half but there were few of his typical rampaging runs forward.
Pedro: 6 - Very lively in the first half but faded very quickly as the game went on. Had an opportunity late on but was denied by Gurpegui.
Messi: 6.5 - Looked out of place as a center forward and should have scored in the 16th minute. Set up a number of opportunities for his team-mates but they were unable to capitalize.
Iniesta: 5.5 - Had a very poor game on the left hand side. Clearly still needs to get match fit and is not as sharp as last season.
Substitutes:
Bojan: 5.5 - Had 15 minutes to influence the game - worked hard in attack but a negligable end product.
Henry: N/A - His late introduction was met by whistles from the fans, but he did little during his time on the pitch.
Anthony Wright, Goal.com
For more on Spain click ahead to Goal.com's Spain homepage
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