
<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a> stretched their lead to nine points at the summit of the LaLiga standings as they edged out Athletic Bilbao 1-0 at the San Mames on Sunday evening. Raphinha scored the winner in first half stoppage time as the Catalans grabbed three crucial points in their quest for a first LaLiga title since the 2018-19 season.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">FULL TIME!!!!!!!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AthleticBar%C3%A7a?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AthleticBarça</a> <a href="https://t.co/YXITJ8VQyK">pic.twitter.com/YXITJ8VQyK</a></p>— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/1635037387704377344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Barcelona started the game on the front foot playing with great intensity thanks to their fluid attacking style. In a frantic opening, Ferran Torres shot wide in just the second minute while Robert Lewandowski spurned a golden opportunity for the visitors in the 17<sup>th</sup> minute.</p>



<p>The Pole found himself through on goal from Frenkie De Jong’s lovely weighted but was let down by his heavy second touch that allowed Bilbao keeper Julen Agirrezabala to gather.</p>



<p>Marc Andre ter Stegen then got down brilliantly to deny Iniaki Williams in the 32<sup>nd</sup> minute before the hosts rattled the bar thanks to Raul Garcia’s header from the following corner.</p>



<h5>RAPHINHA BREAKS DEADLOCK</h5>



<p>Barcelona finally made the breakthrough at the end of the half when Raphinha curled in a left-footed effort from inside the box after being picked out by Sergio Busquets. The referee initially ruled out the Brazilian’s goal for offside, but VAR intervened, and the goal stood as the former Leeds United winger was onside when he received the ball.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After a VAR check, Raphinha&apos;s goal stands!<br><br>1-0 Barcelona 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/IHcxXejr3Q">pic.twitter.com/IHcxXejr3Q</a></p>— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1635020831259783168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Both teams looked to garner clear-cut opportunities in the second half, and it was the hosts who went closest to restore parity in the 72<sup>nd</sup> minute.</p>



<p>Iniaki Williams released Alejandro Berenguer, but the latter rattled the post to pile on the frustration for the home faithful.</p>



<h5>BILBAO GOAL RULED OUT BY VAR</h5>



<p>Iker Muniain came close too but Ter Stegen once again came up with the goods to keep his clean sheet intact. Barcelona then breathed a sigh of relief when Inaki Williams’ goal was ruled out for handball just two minutes before the end as the Catalans held on for huge three points. </p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Inaki Williams&apos; equalizer vs. Barca was ruled out by VAR because of a handball in the build up of the goal. <a href="https://t.co/8wj0cAm05z">pic.twitter.com/8wj0cAm05z</a></p>— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1635036262099984384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>The result means that Xavi’s side now have 65 points from 25 games leading the pack while Bilbao lie ninth as their stuttering campaign continues.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p><em>Photo Credit: Imago&nbsp;/ ZUMA Wire</em></p>


Raphinha winner gives Barcelona nine point lead in LaLiga - World Soccer Talk

Raphinha winner gives Barcelona nine point lead in LaLiga

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<p>Marcelo Bielsa is on the verge of returning to a managerial role, this time with Spanish side Athletic Club.</p>
<p>Despite there being no deal in place as of yet for the Argentine to return to Bilbao, Athletic Club and Marcelo Bielsa are in discussion. The speculation regarding Bielsa’s return to management comes from <a href="https://theathletic.com/news/marcelo-bielsa-athletic-bilbao/ENtvu2HrliDW/" target="_new" rel="noopener">comments regarding the Athletic Club’s presidential race</a>.</p>
<p>With the upcoming club election on June 24, presidential candidate Inaki Arechabaleta said that he will hire Bielsa should the club’s members elect him. According to the Athletic’s Dermot Corrigan, Arechabaleta is the least likely of the three candidates for president. However, that could change regarding the potential return of Bielsa.</p>
<p>Marcelo Bielsa will accept the Athletic Club managerial role should it be offered. Bizarrely, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXY4xrHeUSA" target="_new" rel="noopener">Bielsa recently broke down</a> Athletic Club’s current squad and how it would shape out next season.</p>
<p>During the 2021/22 Premier League season, Leeds United relieved the Argentine of his position. In late February, Leeds United went on a string of four losses conceding a total of 17 in those games. The Yorkshire club replaced Bielsa with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2022/04/08/jesse-marsch-is-leeds-american-savior-from-relegation/">American Jesse Marsch</a> with the Whites in 16th, having played two more games than then-17th Burnley.</p>
<p>Despite the drag in performance over his last games, Bielsa is a club legend at Leeds. Of course, his tactics returned the club to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years. However, his presence around Elland Road clearly left an impact. In fact, Leeds fans took out a <a href="https://theathletic.com/news/leeds-fans-take-out-full-page-ad-in-argentinian-newspaper-to-thank-marcelo-bielsa/mVAURuntqouW/" target="_new" rel="noopener">full-page ad in an Argentine newspaper</a> to thank Bielsa despite the unceremonious departure from the Premier League.</p>
<p>Clearly, Bielsa is someone who understands the passion of the game. Plus, he can do it with sides that may not have the funding or talent of other clubs. Yet, he pulls the best out of those at his disposal.</p>
<h5>Familiar spot</h5>
<p>Enter Athletic Club de Bilbao. The Basque side has a strict <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2021/08/27/athletic-club-bilbao-and-basque-nationalism-laligas-one-of-a-kind-story/">self-imposed transfer policy</a> that only allows the club to use players born or taught around the Basque nation of northern Spain.</p>
<p>Evidently,&nbsp;<em>Los Leones&nbsp;</em>understand what it means for everyone to be involved in the club. Plus, this potential manager has a history with the Basques.</p>
<p>Marcelo Bielsa managed Athletic Club for two seasons from 2011 to 2013. In that first season, Athletic Club finished runner-up in both the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Europa League. It is Athletic Club’s best finish in the Copa del Rey since winning in 1984. Similarly, the second-place finish is the best in Europa League history for Athletic Club.</p>
<h3>Marcelo Bielsa at Athletic Club</h3>
<p>In the near-decade since Bielsa left Athletic Club, much changed in the soccer world. Transfers, although perhaps not a direct correlation, dictate success. For instance, the most successful clubs in Spain, England and France have rosters dominated by players arriving via transfer.</p>
<p>Marcelo Bielsa does not have the opportunity to use that at Athletic Club. Even at Leeds, Bielsa acquired the likes of Raphinha, Jack Harrison, Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo on the transfer market. Each of those players had a key role in either securing promotion or retaining it in the Premier League.</p>
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Signing  > The Legacy <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bielsa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bielsa</a> <a href="https://t.co/gOHKRjKse2">https://t.co/gOHKRjKse2</a> <a href="https://t.co/ufSbAFsdvy">pic.twitter.com/ufSbAFsdvy</a></p>
<p>— LUFC Trust (@lufctrust) <a href="https://twitter.com/lufctrust/status/1536967765680132097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2022</a></p></blockquote></div>
<p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Instead, Marcelo Bielsa must rely on home-grown talent specifically from the area surrounding Bilbao. Despite the geographical and cultural limits, this still opens the doors for talent at the San Mamés.</p>
<p>Currently, that means players like Iñaki Williams, Iker Muniain, Unai Simón and a young Oihan Sincet all performed well. Despite the challenges associated with the club, Athletic joins Barcelona and Real Madrid as the three clubs to never be relegated from the Spanish top flight. Excluding the Supercopa de España, Athletic Club’s last trophy came in 1984 with a league and cup double.</p>
<p>However, Marcelo Bielsa brings in tactics that got Leeds United back to its glory days. He could do the same should Athletic Club pull the trigger on his acquisition.</p>
<h5>Breaking down Bielsa</h5>
<p>It can be fun to speculate how Marcelo Bielsa fits into the plans for Athletic Club. Start with the obvious. Marcelino, the current Bilbao manager, employs a heavy press and a 4-4-2 formation. Athletic Club prefers to force players into isolation on the wing and limit options for assistance. At Leeds, Bielsa opted for a similar strategy. More often than not, Leeds players would defend players one-on-one, forcing the opposition to beat the defending Leeds player himself.</p>
<p>While Leeds and Athletic Club both executed counter-attacking style, possession is not necessarily hard to come by. In fact, Leeds had the <a href="https://www.fotmob.com/leagues/47/stats/season/15382/teams/possession_percentage/premier-league" target="_new" rel="noopener">fourth-highest average possession percentage</a> in the Premier League during Bielsa’s full year in the English top flight, 2020/21. This past season, Athletic Club hovered around the <a href="https://fbref.com/en/comps/12/possession/La-Liga-Stats" target="_new" rel="noopener">middle of the LaLiga pack</a> in terms of possession at 48%.</p>
<p>The press has its flaws. Across-the-field play and line-splitting passes put the defensive back line under pressure quickly. If the press does not lead to quick goals, it can be tiresome on the players. Moreover, there is reason to believe this could yield <a href="https://theathletic.com/news/marsch-training-methods-under-bielsa-led-to-leedss-injury-crisis/OTAxS2A4prMI/" target="_new" rel="noopener">long-term damage and injuries</a> to players. That strenuous nature persisted the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85bJmlSthNk&amp;t=36s" target="_new" rel="noopener">last time Bielsa managed in LaLiga</a>.</p>
<h5>Impact on LaLiga</h5>
<p>While LaLiga has little to no say over whether or not Athletic Club brings on Marcelo Bielsa, the league surely welcomes his arrival.</p>
<p>Marcelo Bielsa developed a strong following during his time at Leeds. He is a passionate manager that has worldwide recognition. Admittedly, he does not have the acclaim or success of a coach like Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho, Zinedine Zidane or Carlo Ancelotti, he does have acclaim. In the last 15 years, he has managerial experience in Spain, England, Italy, France and internationally with Chile.</p>
<p>That experience brings in eyes based solely on experience from previous positions. LaLiga wants more eyes, and this could be an example of a manager pulling audiences.</p>
<p>After missing out on both Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, Bielsa could be a storyline to follow in LaLiga.</p>
<p><em>PHOTO: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images</em></p>


Marcelo Bielsa could be returning as a manager to Athletic Club. He is a fine fit for the club, and perhaps much-needed in LaLiga.

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