Madrid: Barcelona is feeling the absence of Lionel Messi.The team's 1-0 loss at Athletic Bilbao was its second straight setback after a run of 20 unbeaten matches to start the season. Both losses occurred with Messi out injured.
"This Is Not Our Barca!" sports daily Sport headlined Monday on its front page. El Mundo Deportivo went with "Another Death by Asphyxiation" in reference to Bilbao's relentless pressure, the same tactic that helped Ajax beat the Spanish champions 2-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta says "we don't have to throw everything out the window. There's no reason to see it all so negatively."