BARCELONA: Barcelona needed goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to put in a superb performance as the La Liga leaders failed to score and dropped points at Athletic Bilbao in a 0-0 draw on Sunday.

The result ended Barca’s run of 37 league games where they scored at least one goal. Their last league game without a goal was a 0-0 draw with Getafe on February 11, 2018.

Barca have now drawn three games in a row and are showing signs of fatigue as the season enters a critical phase. The defending league champions left San Mames Stadium six points ahead of Real Madrid, who are hitting their stride and moved past Atletico Madrid into second place by winning the capital derby on Saturday.

Ten-man Sevilla scored twice in the final minutes to salvage a 2-2 draw with Eibar. The draw left Sevilla in fourth place the final Champions League berth, two points above Getafe.

Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri scored the first La Liga hat-trick for Leganes, leading them to a 3-0 win at home over Real Betis. En-Nesyri has scored seven goals in his last five games. Sixth-placed Betis finished with 10 men after Javi Garcia was shown a late direct red card.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2019