Soccer-Barca look to reap unexpected benefits of Messi exit at Athletic

[ASFN Admin]

Barcelona learned last week that a future without Lionel Messi does not have to be so bleak and they will look to build on the greater team unity that was on display in their season-opener when they visit Athletic Bilbao on Saturday in LaLiga. While the Argentine's departure to Paris St Germain left Barca with a hole of roughly 50 goals per season and his rare ability to change a game in an instant, their dominant 4-2 win over Real Sociedad on Sunday indicated they could be stronger in other areas without being so beholden to their former captain. As Messi often reserved energy in games for his marauding runs and seldom closed down opponents, Barca could only press teams with nine players rather than 10, which often led to them conceding cheap goals or getting overrun versus the top sides.

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