Barcelona picked up their first three points of the season in San Mamés in a 1-0 victory that was akin to chewing nails. That is certainly the panorama that awaits Luis Enrique's side until the manager has his full complement of players available. On Sunday, Dani Alves and Sergio Busquets joined Barça's growing injury list.
When everything, including Leo Messi's left foot, doesn't work, the ball doesn't circulate and the league opener is against an Athletic side that recently beat Barcelona 4-0, there is nothing left to do but call on reserves of pride and stomach for the fight: Barça knew how to defend their title of champions with dignity in a complicated situation. And in Luis Suárez they have a player that any side would want in moments of self-doubt. The Uruguayan secured the points for a Barcelona team that was superior to Athletic on the night but could just as easily have lost the match.
The match started under the shadow of the recent Spanish Supercup, where Athletic were better than their opponents in every facet. If Athletic had their concerns about having annoyed Barcelona ten days ago the visitors felt the same way, but for completely the opposite reason. That was reflected in an opening 20 minutes where the penalty area was a foreign land for the ball. Nothing at all happened in that period except lateral passes by one side while the other simply waited to see who would make a mistake first.
On the 20-minute mark Dani Alves picked up a groin injury after a challenge by Aritz Aduriz, who continued to provide a headache for Barcelona although this time he didn't get on the score sheet. On Sunday he sent Alves and Sergio Busquets to the changing rooms before the final whistle, the latter with a lustrous stamp. Sergi Roberto was thrown in at the deep end at right back in place of Alves in a huge challenge for the youth academy product who had failed to take his chance as a midfielder in either Supercup. In San Mamés he was used again the position he had occupied in pre-season and had a wonderful game.
From Roberto's flank Barcelona started to create chances and from his boot the first dangerous move was born. The youngster fired in a cross after the ball had clearly left the field and Elustondo handled in front of match of match referee Del Cerro Grande, who failed to spot it. The atmosphere in the stadium started to turn a little strange.
To compensate for his clamorous error the official decided to do the same on the half-hour mark when he awarded a very dubious penalty to Luis Suárez, one that he would never have given had he not ignored the previous handball. Messi, once again ill-fated from 12 yards, failed to beat Gorka Iraizoz, who is not noted as a specialist in that particular sort of luck.
In the second half Athletic started to feel the physical effort of the first and the defensive cover was lacking, in particular because Messi decided to drop back a little to create spaces. One of these was exploited by Jordi Alba, who fired in a cross that Suárez expertly volleyed past Iraizoz when left completely unmarked in the area.
Barcelona appeared to be in control of the game but Busquets' injury complicated matters, although Claudio Bravo had little to do all evening. In the end, Barcelona overcame the first hurdle of the long obstacle course that the season poses.
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