Athletic Club 0-1 Barcelona result - Lamine Yamal takes Barca four points clear of Real Madrid with single moment of second-half magic

A moment of Lamine Yamal magic was enough to give Barcelona a narrow 1-0 victory over Athletic Club on the north coast of Spain.

It came amid a scrappy 90 minutes of football dominated by the away side, but which produced few clear-cut chances.

Athletic Club did well to keep Barcelona quiet even for just the first 45. Hansi Flick’s side had scored in 47 consecutive La Liga matches before Saturday, so Ernesto Valverde’s side did well to deny them any real chances in the opening half.

While the league leaders enjoyed the lion’s share of the ball, they had fewer shots of any sort.

Athletic Club were patient and looked to exploit Barcelona’s high and advancing back line, with Mikel Jauregizar and Alejandro Rego looking to play balls over the top and along the deck to Inaki Williams.

None of them truly troubled Joan Garcia in the Barca goal, but will have left the away side knowing greater discipline was called for in the second half.

That did arrive, eventually. But only after they were almost undone by a refereeing decision on the hour that Athletic Club will believe proved pivotal.

Had Pau Cubarsi been sent off rather than booked for his foul on Williams, who looked to be through on goal, the final 30 minutes of the match might have looked very different. As it was, Barcelona continued with all 11 players.

The unarguably decisive moment of the match came 10 minutes later. Pedri spotted Yamal in too much space on the right, slid a pass over to him and let the young genius do the rest.

Stretching time and space, he glided into the box and let rip towards the far post with a ball that was at once precise and powerful. Unai Simon stood no chance, and that was the ball game.

Barcelona shut up shop from then on, allowing their opponents no space to advance through the middle, while wearing themselves out on the flanks. Athletic Club's heads dipped towards the end, and their players will feel they were deserving of a point against Barca for the first time in six matches, but it wasn't to be.

Although they looked plenty vulnerable, Barcelona, for their part, head to Newcastle with the confidence that comes from flying high in the league, having won three on the spin.

A heavy challenge on Eric Garcia is the final insult for Athletic Club.

Not enough, you'd feel if you were an Athletic Club fan.

But no. One of the better Athletic crosses finds him inside the box with momentum, and it's a good hit, but not quite good enough.

From some distance, so the odds were against him anyway, but he needs to at least alarm the keeper when he's got the ball in that much space.

And by defeated, I mean as much that they thing the fates are against them, rather than that they've been beaten by a better side. This has been a real 51/49 game.

Taking all of the sting out of that Athletic Club acceleration towards the Barca box. The home side are looking increasingly defeated in their mannerisms. Heads are dropping.

Barcelona, in contrast, are content to sit back. That Lamine Yamal finish is worthy of winning any game, but at the same time, you can empathise with Athletic Club feeling a bit hard done by here.

For the final twelve minutes Ronald Araujo takes the spot of midfielder Marc Casado.

Valverde putting his faith in youth for the final fifteen of the match. Athletic Club have to go for it.

Inaki Williams replaced by Gorka Guruzeta, and Mikel Vesga on for Alejandro Rego.

Wow! Eating my words immediately, as the magic man, on his quietest day, produces a diamond of a finish to break the deadlock. He found himself in space on the right, welcomed the ball from Pedri, runs in and curls an absolute peach past Unai Simon. Landing on the inside of the left post, it managed to be both precise and powerful. Sheer brilliance.

He's only had a few moments when he's been able to remind us of his brilliance but for the most part his mazy runs have been rapidly interrupted.

But indecisiveness prevails with the ball sent out wide and coming ultimately to nothing. Relief for Joan Garcia who isn't called into action.

Bang on the hour, as he looks to recharge the guns.

Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo and Marcus Rashford are taken off.

Robert Lewandowski, Fermin Lopez and Raphinha come on. Lewandowski is wearing a mask to protect his injured eye socket.

Who gets off a solid shot and perhaps should do better. The effort is a decent height for Joan Garcia to parry away. Barcelona looking vulnerable this last few minutes but the scoreline says they're okay. Certainly the home supporters are fired up by their team's action.

It looked very red-worthy, but the referee only brings out the yellow card. What a let-off for Barca. Watch that one on the highlights and make your own mind up.

Sancet says no the fourth flick, and it brings up a free kick on the edge of the box for Barca. Their best set piece opportunity so far. And Olmo doesn't get it over the wall.

And it's not too difficult for Joan Garcia but a lovely bit of link-up play between Navarro and the substitute, the slinky run being why he's been brought on presumably.