Barcelona decision to rest Lionel Messi backfire

The Spanish champions equalised late on through Munir


Barca's decision to rest players backfired
Barca's decision to rest players backfired ( REUTERS )
FC Barcelona salvaged a late point at home to Athletic Club as Ernesto Valverde's decision to rotate players backfired. 
Lionel Messi was rested but came off the bench to help inspire the comeback, setting up Munir's 84th-minute equaliser, but couldn't find a winner in stoppage time. 
"It can't be that we keep conceding goals every game like this," said Messi post-match, though Barca's attention must now fully turn to Wembley, where they will play Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League.
But in truth they had half an eye on that game already, with key duo Sergio Busquets and Messi both omitted from the starting line-up. 
Oscar De Marcos turned home a cross from wide smartly to put Athletic ahead in the first half - one of just two shots on target all day - but it took just ten minutes after the break for Ernesto Valverde to turn to Messi for inspiration. 
The Argentine hit the woodwork, as Philippe Coutinho did, as Barca pressed for an equaliser and it looked as if they might not find one at all until Messi's inspired play found fellow substitute Munir with six minutes left. 
Messi was so frustrated with the result that he was booked for dissent after the final whistle and it is clear that Valverde has much to think about, principally working out a way to stop his team leaking goals. 

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