Barcelona were deserved winners at San Mames and are now seven points off leaders Atletico Madrid after coming from behind against Athletic Bilbao. Barca trailed when Inaki Williams ran onto a Raul Garcia's pass and fired past Ter Stegen in the Barca goal after three minutes but responded with a slick attacking performance that had Messi at the heart of it.
It was Messi's cross that led to Pedri's equaliser with 14 minutes on the clock and then the Argentinian netted a double either side of half-time to give Barca victory. He could have scored five goals were it not for a goal disallowed for offside and two efforts which struck Simon's right hand post. Despite making a terrible error in the 90th minute which allowed Muniain to score, it was a vintage display from the 33-year-old.
Athletic Bilbao were the better side early on in their first match under new coach Marcelino and Williams' early goal gave them the perfect start. Ander Capa could have made it 2-0, but he hit the sidenetting in what was a very open first 15 minutes. But when Pedri levelled after Messi's long pass was volleyed back from the by-line by De Jong, Barca took control.
Unai Simon had to deny Jordi Alba after 23 minutes and then the home side lost Yuri to a hamstring injury on the half hour. Dembele was looking sharp and Barca's pressure finally told when they deservedly took the lead in the 38th minute. Messi found Pedri, keeper Simon inexplicably ran out of his goal, Pedri played in Messi with a gorgeous backheel and Messi caught Simon out of position to pass the ball into an empty net. Griezmann had two chances to score before the interval, but the hosts were crying out for half-time.
January 6, 2021
The interval did Athletic good and they had some early pressure at the start of the second half. Vencedor's deflected shot on target was the closest they came, but Koeman's side quickly took back control. Lionel Messi had a goal disallowed for a fractional offside after a pass by De Jong and then Messi's curling effort from 20 yards just before the hour mark struck a post.
Messi did not have to wait long for his goal and it was 1-3 on 62 minutes after superb team play involving Messi, Alba and Griezmann. The Frenchman assisted the Argentine who scored with the help of the crossbar.
That goal meant Barca were very comfortable and there seemed little chance of the home side pulling one back. In fact, Messi could have easily had his hat-trick 18 minutes from time, but he was once again struck the post. However, in the 90th minute, out of nothing. Athletic made it 2-3. Messi inexplicably played a cross-field pass in his own half, Alex Berenguer intercepted it and played in Iker Muniain who made no mistake.
There was very little time for a response though and Bilbao could only muster one attack in the closing stages which Barca dealt with and the Catalans deservedly took home the three points. Athletic Bilbao remain in 9th and despite leaving this one empty handed, they were certainly not disgraced.