Barcelona's quest for the LaLiga title suffered a significant setback after a goalless draw against Athletic Club at San Mames. Barcelona were dealt with double injuries blow as both Frenkie de Jong and Pedri were forced off the field, adding to their already lengthy injury list.

What Happened

This disappointing result came on the back of Real Madrid's slip-up in the title race, drawing 2-2 against Valencia. Barcelona had the chance to close the gap to just four points, but their performance was hampered by a lack of attacking intent and the Barcelona injuries.

The turning point of the match arrived in the 26th minute when Frenkie de Jong suffered an ankle injury and was replaced by Joao Cancelo. While Cancelo nearly put the visitors ahead shortly after, the first half also saw both Ronald Araujo and head coach Xavi Hernandez receive yellow cards, meaning a suspension for their next match against Mallorca.

Just before halftime, Barcelona faced another injury setback as Pedri, who has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, limped off in tears. This latest Barcelona injury could potentially keep him out for a significant period.

Barcelona Injuries Mount

With Pedri joining Gavi, Ferran Torres, Marcos Alonso, and Alejandro Balde on the Barcelona injury list, the team's hopes of catching Real Madrid appear increasingly slim. Only 12 games remain in the La Liga season, and Barcelona's already depleted squad faces a tough challenge in overcoming this setback.

Despite introducing fresh legs in the second half with the likes of Joao Felix, Inigo Martinez, and Oriol Romeu, Barcelona never truly threatened to score. The stop-start nature of the game, coupled with the Barcelona injuries, proved too much to overcome.

This draw extends Barcelona's winless streak against Athletic Club to three games and leaves them with a mountain to climb in their pursuit of the LaLiga title. With their key players sidelined due to Barcelona injuries, Xavi Hernandez faces a crucial task of motivating his squad and finding solutions to navigate the remaining matches of the season.

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