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Athletic Bilbao logo
La Liga
Dec 1, 2013 at 8pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

1-0

Muniain (70')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Barcelona lose unbeaten league record at Athletic Bilbao

Iker Muniain's 70th-minute strike at San Mames helps Athletic Bilbao to victory over Barcelona in La Liga.

Athletic Bilbao have inflicted a second defeat in the space of a week upon Barcelona at San Mames.

Neymar of FC Barcelona reacts during the La Liga match between Athletic Club and FC Barcelona at San Mames Stadium on December 1, 2013© Getty Images

It was the visitors who started strong and nearly took the lead in the 13th minute when the ball fell kindly for Neymar inside the area.

However, Gorka Iraizoz was equal to the Brazilian's effort, pushing it over the bar.

As the half wore on, Los Leones began to assert themselves, with Markel Susaeta in particular causing the Blaugrana problems.

The 25-year-old winger carved out clear-cut openings for Iker Muniain and Gaizka Toquero before the break, but wasteful finishing prevented the hosts from taking a lead before half time.

Barca started the second period as they had the first, with Cesc Fabregas supplying Neymar to fire waywardly off target.

The game hinged on a contentious decision from the referee, who deemed Ander Iturraspe's foul on Neymar worthy of a yellow card, despite him being the last man and the Brazilian bearing down on goal.

When the breakthrough finally came in the 70th minute, it was a result of dogged work from Ander Herrera and a good cross from Susaeta, which was met by the arriving Muniain.

Toquero nearly made it 2-0 in the 77th minute, only to be denied by a fantastic reflex stop by Jose Manuel Pinto.

Gerardo Martino's men, who fell 2-1 at Ajax in the Champions League in midweek, struggled to create any clear chances as they desperately tried to avoid their first league defeat of the season.

There was to be no rescue act, though, as Bilbao made it three wins in a row.

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Head coach FC Barcelona Gerardo Martino reacts during the UEFA Champions League Group H match between AC Milan and Barcelona at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 22, 2013
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid29226164204472
2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913


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