- Lionel Messi on target in Barcelona win
- La Liga leaders beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0
Lionel Messi scored for the sixth consecutive game as Barcelona tightened their grip in the title race with a 2-0 win against Athletic Bilbao. Messi took his goal tally for the season to 38 with a fine finish from the edge of the penalty area.
Paco Alcácer had already given the hosts the lead at the Nou Camp and the leaders went on to canter to a routine victory against a Bilbao side grateful they were not more soundly beaten.
Barcelona were missing Luis Suárez through suspension but the Uruguay striker’s absence did not seem to affect them too much. They went ahead after eight minutes, with Messi predictably at the heart of the move.
The Argentina forward, fresh from his two goals in the midweek Champions League win against Chelsea, danced his way into the area before laying the ball off to Jordi Alba. The defender reached the byline before cutting the ball back to Alcácer, who was left with a simple side‑footed finish past the Bilbao goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Philippe Coutinho was inches away from doubling Barcelona’s lead moments later when he met another Alba cut-back with a volley which crashed back off the crossbar.
Messi had already had a couple of sighters when he got on the scoresheet on the half-hour. Ousmane Dembélé picked out his strike partner, who had been left unmarked on the edge of the penalty area, and Messi punished the visitors by drilling the ball unerringly into the bottom corner.
Coutinho was again denied by the woodwork before half‑time when his deft lob grazed the crossbar.
The second half was played at almost a testimonial pace with Barcelona content to knock the ball around at their leisure. A Mexican wave broke out 10 minutes from the end as the home fans decided to amuse themselves.
Theguardian