Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Barcelona: 5 Talking Points, LaLiga 2018/19

#2 Alba and Arthur missed sorely by Barcelona

Vidal failed to make a mark on the game

Arthur missed the trip due to an injury, and the midfielder is expected to be out for a couple of weeks. Left-back Jordi Alba also didn't feature, as he was suspended due to the accumulation of yellow cards in the league. Both the players were part of Barca's strongest eleven, and their absence was felt keenly.

Arturo Vidal, who started in Arthur's absence failed to impress. He gave the ball away cheaply on too many occasions and failed to offer any attacking output. Alba's absence meant that Nelson Semedo was deployed on the left side. Semedo lacks the telepathic understanding which Alba has with Messi and failed to be an attacking force on the left wing like Alba so often does.

Alba will be back into the side from next game, but Arthur's absence is bound to be a lengthy one. Vidal will definitely have to raise his game in the coming weeks for Ernesto Valverde.