Barcelona missed a chance to close the gap on Real Madrid on top of the LaLiga table after settling for a barren draw against Athletic Bilbao.
It was a game of few chances at the San Mames Stadium as the two sides locked horns in a LaLiga thriller. Barcelona had the chance to climb over Girona into the second place on the table after the Michel-led team stumble to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Mallorca.
The Catalans would have also closed the gap on Real Madrid to six points with a victory had they converted their two big chances in the game.
As expected, it was a tight affair but Barcelona were on the ascendancy going forward. Dominating proceedings and recording more touches in the opponents' box, the Blaugrana failed to make their dominance count.
It was a dead end in Athletic Bilbao's final third as the home side, buoyed by roaring home fans and fresh from a big Copa Del Rey win over Atletico Madrid, held the Catalan giants to ransom.
Barcelona's first big chance in the game came in the 10th minute when they won a freekick. IIkay Gundogan delivered it perfectly into Bilbao's box for Christensen but the former Chelsea star's header was wide off the post.
Kounde also had a chance to put the visitors ahead after receiving a pass from Frenkie de Jong in the 14th minute but fired wide off target.
Barcelona were dealt a heavy blow in the 26th minute with Frenkie De Jong injured after he landed awkwardly following an aerial challenge.
He was carted off the field with Fermin Lopez coming on. Despite the injury setback, Barcelona were still on the ascendancy going forward but it was still a deadlock with both sides unable to find the back of the net at the break.
Before the break, Barcelona suffered another injury blow with Pedri going down with an injury after he planted his foot awkwardly. The youngster was distraught as he walked off with Lamine Yamal subbed on in his place.
Unlike the first half, Athletic Bilbao made some promising early offensives at the start of the second half. Their skipper Williams came across two good chances after a counter but squandered them.
The two sides failed to create clear chances going forward and it finally ended barren at the blast of the final whistle.
The draw has seen Barcelona retain their third spot on the table with 58 points, a point behind Girona, and 8 points behind Real Madrid. On the other hand, Athletic Bilbao missed a chance to close up on Atletico Madrid in the top-four race. They are 5th on the table with 50 points, 5 points behind Atletico Madrid in 4th place.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
It was a game of few chances at the San Mames Stadium as the two sides locked horns in a LaLiga thriller. Barcelona had the chance to climb over Girona into the second place on the table after the Michel-led team stumble to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Mallorca.
The Catalans would have also closed the gap on Real Madrid to six points with a victory had they converted their two big chances in the game.
As expected, it was a tight affair but Barcelona were on the ascendancy going forward. Dominating proceedings and recording more touches in the opponents' box, the Blaugrana failed to make their dominance count.
It was a dead end in Athletic Bilbao's final third as the home side, buoyed by roaring home fans and fresh from a big Copa Del Rey win over Atletico Madrid, held the Catalan giants to ransom.
Barcelona's first big chance in the game came in the 10th minute when they won a freekick. IIkay Gundogan delivered it perfectly into Bilbao's box for Christensen but the former Chelsea star's header was wide off the post.
Kounde also had a chance to put the visitors ahead after receiving a pass from Frenkie de Jong in the 14th minute but fired wide off target.
Barcelona were dealt a heavy blow in the 26th minute with Frenkie De Jong injured after he landed awkwardly following an aerial challenge.
He was carted off the field with Fermin Lopez coming on. Despite the injury setback, Barcelona were still on the ascendancy going forward but it was still a deadlock with both sides unable to find the back of the net at the break.
Before the break, Barcelona suffered another injury blow with Pedri going down with an injury after he planted his foot awkwardly. The youngster was distraught as he walked off with Lamine Yamal subbed on in his place.
Unlike the first half, Athletic Bilbao made some promising early offensives at the start of the second half. Their skipper Williams came across two good chances after a counter but squandered them.
The two sides failed to create clear chances going forward and it finally ended barren at the blast of the final whistle.
The draw has seen Barcelona retain their third spot on the table with 58 points, a point behind Girona, and 8 points behind Real Madrid. On the other hand, Athletic Bilbao missed a chance to close up on Atletico Madrid in the top-four race. They are 5th on the table with 50 points, 5 points behind Atletico Madrid in 4th place.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS