BARCELONA, Spain — Even with Neymar available, Barcelona is feeling the absence of Lionel Messi. The team's 1-0 loss at Athletic Bilbao was its second straight setback after a run of 20 unbeaten matches to start the season. Both losses occurred with Messi out injured. “This Is Not Our Barca!” sports daily Sport headlined Monday on its front page. El Mundo Deportivo went with “Another Death by Asphyxiation” in reference to Bilbao's relentless pressure, the same tactic that helped Ajax beat the Spanish champion 2-1 in the Champions League Tuesday. Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has tinkered with the team's style of play since he took over this season. At the expense of some the Catalan club's aesthetically pleasing play of one-touch football, the changes had netted results until last week. “We're going to lose some games and we're not going to like it, and that will generate all types of questions but we don't have to throw everything out the window. There's no reason to see it all so negatively,” Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta said. “We just couldn't score after having occasions and dominating parts of the game.” Barcelona created chances late in the second half Sunday at the San Mames but couldn't beat Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz. Martino also alluded to Messi's absence being a factor with the team's lack of finishing up front. “We just couldn't find that last pass to help us finish it off,” the Argentine coach said. “What is disconcerting is when a team doesn't know what to do, but I didn't see that my team didn't know what to do.” Bilbao struck on the counterattack. The Basque club's stifling pressure high up the field forced Barcelona's defense into hurried passes and giveaways. Barcelona saw its lead at the top of the standings erased as Atletico Madrid joined it in first place with 40 points. Real Madrid is three points behind. The Madrid press reveled in Barcelona's struggles, with sports daily Marca writing “Barca Slides; Madrid Thrives” across its front page. Also Sunday, Valencia beat 10-man Osasuna 3-0, Sevilla won 2-1 at Granada, and Rayo Vallecano drew 2-2 at Real Betis. Bilbao has yet to lose in seven games at its new San Mames Stadium. The victory lifted it into fourth place. Like so many times in past meetings between the Basque and Catalan clubs, the pace remained frenetic and intense with the ball constantly changing sides. Early on, Barcelona coolly worked its way through Bilbao's pressure and just past the 10-minute mark deployed a number of one-touch passes in a series of attacks that went unrewarded. Neymar first had his strike palmed over the bar by Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz in the 12th before Andres Iniesta spoiled a back-heeled flip by Busquets by firing wide. Then it was Bilbao's turn and Muniain had a golden chance to put the host ahead in the 29th, but he barely made contact on a deflected cross that reached him with only goalie Jose Pinto to beat. Barcelona looked to hit Bilbao on the break, but Neymar slipped several times while trying to dribble and had to change his shoes in the 34th. The new boots still didn't help the Brazil striker in the 50th when he wasted Cesc Fabregas' pass by sailing his shot high, and his frustration at Carlos Gurpegui's marking boiled over and soon earned Neymar a yellow card when he retaliated. Neymar then drew a yellow card for Andre Iturraspe when he fouled the Brazilian from behind. Neymar curled the resulting free kick by the near post in the 59th. Bilbao kept up its pressure and it finally paid off when Ander Herrera stole the ball and passed to Markel Susaeta who crossed for the streaking Muniain to stab in the goal before Barcelona could recover in defense. — Agencies
