Champions Barcelona was left aggravated as it squandered a possibility to shut the space with LaLiga leaders Real Madrid after being held to a lacklustre 0-0 draw at Athletic Club on Sunday.
With Actual going down points on Saturday following a 2-2 draw at Valencia, Barca were wanting to protect the win that would help them to shut the void with the rate setter and likewise enable them to leapfrog Girona into 2nd area in the standings.
Instead, Sunday’s standoff meant they still track Actual by eight factors and stay one-point adrift of shock package Girona, who get on 59 after enduring a 1-0 loss at Mallorca earlier in the day.
Barca suffered two injury blows, with midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Pedri forced out in the first-half.
De Jong was carted off the area in the 26th min after he landed awkwardly on his appropriate foot complying with an obstacle with a rival gamer.
Minutes prior to halftime, Pedri left the join in rips after enduring what looked like a right leg injury.
It is the 9th leg muscle mass injury sustained by the 21-year-old midfielder because completion of the 2020-21 period.
” It is a sad day,” Xavi informed Movistar And also.
” We’ll understand extra about their injuries in between today and tomorrow, however it does not look great. We were affected by that and I imagine that both will certainly be out for a number of suits.”
Barca’s Joao Cancelo came closest to scoring in a lukewarm first half when his shot from near the halfway line bridged Athletic’s goalkeeper however was removed by a protector.
The home side who were a lot more hostile complying with the interval, with Inaki Williams and Alex Berenguer a constant menace.
But it was discouraged by a strong Barca defence that stood up to the late pressure to safeguard a factor against an in-form group which is bidding process for a top-four finish.
Athletic, which got in the competition on the back of a 10-match winning touch in the house in all competitions, is 5th in the standings with 50 factors, five behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.