Barcelona player ratings v Athletic Bilbao: De Jong 8, Depay 7, Griezmann 6

Dutch striker earns struggling Barca a hard-fought 1-1 draw

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  BARCELONA RATINGS: Neto 5 - Busy start as the Basques closed him down quickly and pressured a goalkeeper who isn’t the best with his feet. Looked nervous and reluctant to come out – and when he did he looked uncertain. Conceded when Athletic’s ninth corner of the game was met by a glancing header after 49 minutes. Better in second half. EPA

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  Sergino Dest 6 - Like fellow full-back Alba, he struggled to get forward until the last 20 minutes as Barca tried to get an equaliser. Crossed for Depay after 79, before being substituted three minutes later. AP

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  Eric Garcia 5 - Played well against one Basque team last week, struggled to deal with Inaki Williams’ pace and power this and was booked after 28, but improved against him in the second half. Beaten in the air for opening goal. Second yellow and a red card after 92. AP

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  Gerard Pique 5 - Three corners for the hosts in the first ten minutes and a Williams shot which hit the cross bar after he was unable to block it meant he was busy. Signalled to the bench that he was injured after 29 and went off. A shame. AFP

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  Jordi Alba 6 - Wobbly start and he quickly became the most experienced defender when Pique left the field. Hard for him to get forward as usual given Athletic’s dominance. Booked. Reuters

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  Pedri 6 - His 76th start for club and country since the start of last season. Shot cleared off the line just after half time. Substituted after 61 after an unusually mediocre performance. He’ll be given a much deserved two-week break now. AFP

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  Sergio Busquets 6 - Didn’t get on the ball as much as usual, but then won possession which led to the equaliser in the first Athletic game with fans for 16 months. AFP

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  Frenkie de Jong 8 - Superb first half block from an early Inaki Williams shot when the Dutchman sprinted from his own half. Beautiful skill combined with quick thinking saw him lob the ball on to the bar after 73 minutes. More confident getting into penalty area late on and set up Depay with a better chance than the one he had scored from. AP

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  Antoine Griezmann 6- Never the most popular man in Bilbao after he was a star with neighbours Real Sociedad. Tried to get in the game but struggled against a dominant home side and didn’t get sufficient time on the ball. “It’s going to be tough for us this season,” said the Frenchman. Reuters

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  Martin Braithwaite 6 - Struck a shot over from six yards after six minutes when he really should have scored. Limited by Athletic’s high press. Reuters

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  Memphis Depay 7 - Wonderful skill to set up Braithwaite early on, but very little service. Struck the powerful equaliser on 75 minutes into the roof of the net. Should’ve scored the winner from the left side of the attack after 85 but dragged the ball across the goal. AFP

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  SUBS: Ronald Araujo 7 - On for Pique with two thirds of the game to play and his speed was immediately welcomed. Spectacular overhead kick saw him put the ball in the net after 46 minutes, but the effort was ruled out due to a push from Braithwaite. Harsh. Cleared a Williams’ shot off the line. Reuters

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  Sergi Roberto 7 - On for Pedri after 62 minutes. Won a challenge and prodded the ball to Depay to set up the equaliser. AFP

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  Yusuf Demir 6 - The winger, 18, came on for Braithwaite after 62 in a double substitution aimed at jolting a dormant, dominant, Barca. It worked. Reuters

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  Emerson N/A - On for Dest after 82 minutes. Reuters

Memphis Depay demonstrated why coach Ronald Koeman urged Barcelona to sign the Netherlands striker after scoring with a blistering strike to help his team avoid their first defeat of the post-Lionel Messi era with a 1-1 draw.

Depay’s goal from a tight angle came with Barcelona playing poorly against an Athletic Bilbao team inspired by having some fans in the stands of San Mames for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

Depay, who arrived as a free agent this summer, drove a left-footed shot over goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala and into the top of the net in the 75th minute.

“(Depay) is a great player, that is why we signed him,” Koeman said after the match. “He scored a great goal today. He is an important player for us. He is strong, fast and is a good finisher.”

Bilbao had gone ahead in the 50th when defender Inigo Martinez headed home one of many corner kicks the hosts generated with their high-paced attack.

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.