Despite not having anything to play for in this end of season ‘dead rubber,’ Barca’s players knocked the ball around like their starting positions depended on it.
Even though Athletic Club hadn’t beaten the blaugranes home or away in the league in the previous 10 meetings, playing Los Leones at San Mames is never an easy fixture.
With the home crowd willingly playing their part in making it a partisan atmosphere, it was no real surprise that it was the hosts who started the game on the front foot.
It would be Pedri’s brilliance approaching the quarter-hour which started to unpick the Athletic defence, and his quick thinking from a free-kick led to Robert Lewandowski crafting his 100th goal for the club with a sublime chip.
Athletic Club v FC Barcelona - La Liga EA Sports Photo by Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images
Another for the Polish international a few minutes later evidenced that age hasn’t wearied that footballing brain of his, as he ghosted in at the far post to head in from close range.
Although Athletic hadn’t scored as the teams headed back down the tunnel, there were, again, enough instances where Hansi Flick wouldn’t have been too happy with his defence.
Eric Garcia was being consistently beaten for pace by Nico Williams whilst Ronald Araujo didn’t inspire confidence at the heart of the back four.
In any event, as so often this season, Pedri’s ability to affect proceedings was in evidence, and his presence centrally appeared to unsettle his direct opponents.
Whether spraying the ball wide to bring the likes of Alejandro Balde and Lamine Yamal into play, or short, sharp and accurate passes to Fermin Lopez or Lewandowski, the 22-year-old was in his element.
No space to work in? No matter.
Athletic Club v FC Barcelona - La Liga EA Sports Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
That, in essence, is what sets him apart from his contemporaries, and for all of the headlines that other players seem to routinely grab, it’s Pedri who is the one player that weaves everything together for the Catalans.
After another outstanding season, it’s difficult to argue with him being Barca’s most influential player.
The type of player, like Andres Iniesta or Xavi, that is what could be termed a ‘footballer’s footballer.’
The ease with which he moves through the gears and is never flustered despite being under the most intense pressure is an absolute joy to watch.
What happened to him a couple of seasons ago, however, when he played over 70 matches, shouldn’t be forgotten.
He played 59 out of 60 matches in total in the current campaign, so the fact that he won’t be playing in the Club World Cup this summer has to be a blessing in disguise as far as both he and the club are concerned.