Athletic Bilbao 0-1 Barcelona: Dramatic late VAR reprieve ensures Xavi´s men restore nine-point lead

A late VAR reprieve ensured Barcelona clung on to a slender 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao as Raphinha continued his impressive form to restore the Blaugrana’s nine-point lead at the summit.

Barca looked to have been pegged back by a dramatic Inaki Williams equaliser, but it was disallowed for handball and Xavi’s side just about held on in the face of intense pressure.

The visitors had to weather a storm in the first half as well, making the most of their survival on the stroke of half-time when the in-form Raphinha struck.

Williams’ disallowed goal was then followed by more late chances for Athletic, but the hosts’ efforts amounted to nothing as Barca got one over former coach Ernesto Valverde.

FULL TIME!!!!!!!!! #AthleticBarça pic.twitter.com/YXITJ8VQyK

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 12, 2023

The Blaugrana were fortunate to come through Athletic’s promising first-half spell.

Alex Berenguer prodded just off target after Jules Kounde misjudged the bounce of the ball, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen came to the rescue a few minutes later, turning Williams’ strike around the post.

Raul Garcia’s diving header from the resulting corner hit the crossbar, and Barca capitalised just before the break.

Sergio Busquets cleverly sidestepped a defender and found Raphinha in the right side of the box, with the Brazilian firing into the bottom-far corner.

A generally cagier second half came to life in the final 20 minutes.

After Berenguer hit the post, Williams had seemingly secured Athletic a point with an emphatic finish having been played through on goal, only for it to be wiped out for handball by Iker Muniain in the build-up.

Nico Williams then failed to convert a tap-in, and Yuri Berchiche saw his follow-up cleared off the line as Barca somehow escaped San Mames with the points.