Monsoon magic in San Mamés

For anyone who really watches La Liga, you should not be surprised at the quality that Athletic have in their squad. They are a very talented, fast, fit, intense and tough team that deserve recognition. The centerpiece is obviously, and deservedly so, big Fernando Llorente. However, they have a core of other players that make them contenders in any match they play. Young starlet Iker Muniain, who plays like a young Andres Iniesta (also likely to be brought in to take his place) is an incredible talent. Javi Martinez is already a main part of the Spanish National program, then there is Susaeta, Herrera, Iturraspe, and the immense Fernando Amorebieta (a name you WILL be hearing much more of as next summer's transfer season comes). Athletic pushed Barcelona unlike any other opponent to date and it provided an early season epic in La Liga.

The torrential downpour provided a great backdrop for what was to come. Any match between these sides can never be classified as boring, but you couldn’t expect a match like this. Both teams battled to the end, nobody backed out of a tackle, every ball was challenged. Both sides had standouts; Llorente, Herrera, Muniain and Amorebieta were great for Athletic, Messi, Mascherano, Abidal, and Iniesta equally so for Barcelona. The water logged pitch caused the standard weather-induced blunders that do nothing but add to the entertainment. The first goals for both sides were extremely classy finishes; first Herrera ended Victor Valdez’s record clean sheet streak at 897 minutes witch a beautiful curling effort from just inside the box, it was soon followed by Fabregas nodding home a beautiful cross from Eric Abidal. The dramatic finish was set in motion with a Pique own-goal that put Athletic up 2-1 with 10 minutes remaining. Barcelona pressured until the very end and were rewarded with the equalizer, Messi’s first away goal of the season (also his first ever goal in San Mamés) just as the match approached 90 minutes; a defensive lapse from an Athletic defense that had been spectacular all evening.

It must be said, though, the real achievement in this match was the technical level of these two sides despite the weather doing its best to impede proceedings. The ball flew around the pitch for 90 mins, players on both sides showed immaculate touches and interplay. I mention this because it is what sets La Liga apart from any other league in the world. Nowhere else will you see two teams excel technically across the board while battling the elements to the degree that Barcelona and Athletic did. This was a classic match not just for La Liga but for all of Europe.

2-2 final

Sucks for you if you missed it because you were watching Tottenham and Fulham…