Barcelona extend unbeaten streak with draw

Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o celebrates his goal against Athletic Bilbao during a Spanish league football match at the San Mames stadium, in Bilbao.

League leaders Barcelona made hard work of extending their unbeaten streak to nine games in the Spanish first division but they had to survive some nervous moments to pull off a 1-1 draw against a spirited Athletic Bilbao.

The Catalan visitors had the best of the early exchanges and looked as though they were going to have an easy time in Athletic's usually intimidating San Mames stadium after an early goal by Samuel Eto'o, but the Basques countered quickly and gave Barca as good as they got for the rest of the game.

"A draw was a fair result. Getting a point in Bilbao is always a reason to be happy," said Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard.

"This was an intense and equally balenced match. Both sides gave everything, both of us were looking for goals. I think it will have been an attractive spectacle for neutral spectators."

Eto'o got his eighth goal of the season after just 11 minutes following an accurate long ball from Damia Abella, who was making his league debut for Barcelona.

The African Player of Year brought it down and then the ball trickled through the legs of Athletic defender Ander Murillo before Eto'o went round his man and blasted the ball home.

However, Barca's lead lasted just three minutes.

Athletic Bilbao's Andoni Iraola (C) and Felipe Gurendez (R) vie with Barcelona's Ronaldinho (L) during a Spanish league match at San Mames stadium in Bilbao. Match ended in a draw 1-1.

Athletic's Spanish international wing back Aitor Del Horno initiated a counter-attack and Ismael Urzaiz nodded the punt forward to Francisco Yeste, who produced a splendid left-foot volley from an acute angle to even the score.

With both defences looking shaky, there were further opportunities for both teams to go ahead before the break.

Del Horno blasted the ball high when clear in front of goal late in the first half and Deco hit the crossbar for Barca shortly afterwards.

Both sides continued to attack relentlessly during the second half.

Del Horno squandered a further good chance, heading over the bar from a corner, and Barca's second half substitute Henrik Larsson was also in the clear on two occasions but failed to find his usual clinical finishing skills.

Athletic played the last 11 minutes with 10 men after Carlos Gurpegui got his marching orders for two yellow cards in three minutes, both for fouls on Andres Iniesta, but Barcelona couldn't exploit the advantage despite Ronaldinho producing some of his trademark trickery with the ball at his feet.

Iniesta came on at half time after Rijkaard decided to take off Deco, becuase he felt the hero of Porto's Chaqmpions League triumph last season was on the verge of losing control, having already been booked, "because of a lot of provocation by the Athletic players."

Most of the other Spanish fixtures take place on Sunday with among the most eye-catching being Real Madrid hosting their newly-promoted local rivals Getafe for the first time in league history.

Sevilla travel to Real Zaragoza, with the visitors surprising many pundits this season and starting the weekend in second place.