BILBAO (Reuters) - Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has admitted opposition sides are being bolder against his side now that they can no longer count on Lionel Messi, after the Catalans were held 1-1 away to Athletic Bilbao in LaLiga on Saturday.
A thumping late strike from Memphis Depay cancelled out Inigo Martinez's header to earn Barca a point but Koeman admitted his team were still keenly feeling the absence of their all-time top scorer and former captain, two weeks after he left Barca for Paris St Germain following 21 years at the club.
"It's also the same for us, if you give a pass to Messi, he normally doesn't lose the ball. You can feel that he is not here any more. We all know it but we can't change it."
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