Memphis Strikes As Barca Rally For Bilbao Draw News

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Memphis Strikes As Barca Rally For Bilbao Draw

By Daily sports on August 22, 2021

Memphis Depay scored his first goal as a Barcelona player as the team came from behind to draw with Athletic Bilbao in their second match of the new LaLiga campaign on Saturday night.

Ronald Koeman’s side were under pressure from the start and watched as Athletic’s Inaki Williams tormented their backline even before veteran defender Gerard Pique was forced off with an apparent injury in the 31st minute.

Williams fired a sweetly-hit volley from distance shortly before half-time, but the shot went right at Barca keeper Neto and the teams went into the break with the game still goalless.

Eric Garcia, who was ultimately sent off for a clear path foul late in the game, continued to struggle against Williams and the hosts went deservedly ahead soon after the restart from a corner when Inigo Martinez rose up and headed past Neto to make it 1-0.

However, Barca drew level as the half wore on when substitute Sergi Roberto set up Memphis and the Netherlands international smashed a rising volley into the back of the net to set up a tense closing quarter of an hour.

Despite the better second half from Barca, the teams were forced to settle for a point as Koeman's team continued to adjust to life without their former talisman Lionel Messi after he left for Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent this summer.

Barcelona started the campaign last weekend with a 4-2 win over Real Sociedad and next face Getafe on Aug. 29. (ESPN)

•PHOTO: Barcelona players

Source Daily sports

Posted August 22, 2021