Ander Herrera has conceded that Lionel Messi was the reason Athletic Bilbao didn't beat Barcelona on Saturday evening.

The Argentine forward came on midway through the second half to score and set up the other as the Blaugrana took a 2-1 lead at San Mames.

But the 23-year-old midfielder struck in the 90th minute to ensure both teams went away with a point.

“The key moment of the game was when Messi came on,” he told terra.es. “He got a goal and then participated in the other.

“That’s why he’s the best player in the world.

“Before that we were perhaps the better team.”

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