IRAIZOZ DENIES A SIXTH! Adriano produces a clever back-heel on the half-way line to release Pedro down the right and he squares into the area for the unmarked Neymar, but he is thwarted by the goalkeeper when one-on-one.
90'
There will be two minutes added on here.
88'
Barca may have looked a little suspect at the back on occasion today, but going forward they have been utterly ruthless. Athletic have not been able to handle them and the link-up play between Messi, Suarez and Neymar has looked ominous for the rest of La Liga.
86'
Pedro has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by Sergio Busquets.
GOAL!!! AND THERE IS THE FIFTH! Wonderful football from Barcelona as they secure an emphatic win. Messi twists and turns on the edge of the area and then runs across to the right from the left, flicking a brilliant pass into the area for Busquets in the process. The midfielder squares to Pedro, who is left with an easy finish.
83'
Barca are monopolising possession now, passing Athletic into submission as they go in search of a fifth. For the hosts this is simply damage limitation now, as their 10 men look to avoid being embarrassed.
81'
And now Luis Enrique makes a change. Suarez leaves the pitch to a chorus of jeers and on in his place comes Pedro for the final 10 minutes or so.
80'
Pedro enters the game and replaces L. Suárez.
79'
There is the latest change for Athletic, as Gurpegui takes the place of Muniain.
78'
Gurpegi enters the game and replaces Muniain.
Minute
Description
77'
Lovely move by Barca. Neymar and Messi combine with a one-two, and then the Brazilian is released into the area by Suarez. The former Santos man tries to lob Iraizoz with a half-volley, but Laporte makes a good block.
75'
Xabier Etxeita goes off after a red card!
RED CARD! Etxeita is given a straight red and surely Athletic's slim chances evaporate as a result. The centre-back has been playing close to the edge all night and this time he catches Suarez with a studs-up challenge on the side of his knee and he is rightly dismissed.
74'
Rafinha enters the game and replaces Xavi.
73'
ATHLETIC ESCAPE! Jordi Alba races forward from left-back and manages to get on the end of Suarez's lofted cross from the right and he heads just wide of the right-hand post.
71'
Athletic may have doubled their own tally for the day, but Barca continue to dominate this encounter, pressing forward in rampant fashion and it will not come as a shock to see them get a fifth.
69'
Adriano enters the game and replaces Dani Alves.
Beñat enters the game and replaces Susaeta.
Unai López gets yellow.
Both sides make a change now, as Susaeta leaves the pitch for Benat and Barca's Adriano replaces Dani Alves.
68'
What a crazy few minutes in Bilbao! Barca remain two goals to the good, but they are not looking particularly impressive at the back, with Pique particularly uneasy with Aduriz.
66'
Aduriz has scored a goal for Athletic Bilbao! Assist by Muniain.
GOAL!!! ATHLETIC STRIKE! Muniain rides the tackle of Busquets in the middle and slips a good throughball into the area for Aduriz, who unleashes a lethal effort from a tight angle and beats Bravo. What a strike!
64'
Neymar has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by L. Messi.
GOAL!!! BARCA HAVE THEIR FOURTH! Neymar latches on to Messi's delightful pass and the Brazil star sweeps past Iraizoz in emphatic fashion, effectively wrapping up a Barca win as the visitors' fiersome attacking trident cause havoc.
62'
De Marcos is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
59'
Mikel Rico has scored a goal for Athletic Bilbao!
GOAL!!! ATHLETIC HAVE A LIFELINE! Aduriz loses his man and races on to Susaeta's pass, producing a powerful shot inside the area. Bravo makes the save, but Rico is on hand to tap in. Game on!
58'
Athletic win a free-kick out on the right after a foul by Neymar, though they waste the opportunity as Susaeta's delivery is swiftly cleared and then Messi is brought down when a counterattack beckoned.
56'
Athletic are looking more lively now and Muniain is causing problems this time. He comes into a central position and slips a clever pass into the area for Aduriz, who sees his eventual shot blocked by the groin of Pique. That will have hurt!
55'
Excellent chance for Athletic to hit back as Unai Lopez is found at the back post, but the 19-year-old scuffs his effort wide of the post. That was a big miss from the youngster.
54'
There is the first change for Athletic. Balenziaga, who was of course booked in the first half, is replaced by Aurtenetxe.
52'
Jon Aurtenetxe enters the game and replaces Balenziaga.
Lovely move by Barca. Neymar picks up possession on the left wing, produces a stepover to beat one defender and then pokes a the ball to Suarez. The Brazilian receives the return pass and gets to the byline, finding Rakitic in the area, but his effort is blocked.
50'
San Jose is once again lucky to escape a booking as he catches Busquets with a bit of a kick on his calf. Nevertheless, Barca get the free-kick just inside the Athletic half, keeping the hosts under pressure.
48'
Tentative penalty claims from the hosts as Aduriz looks to dart in front of Pique in order to collect Susaeta's right-wing delivery. The forward ends up on the deck, though the referee decides the centre-back's nudge was a fair one.
46'
Off we go for the second half.
45' +1
HALF-TIME!
45'
Dani Alves gets yellow.
Dani Alves jumps in with a strong tackle on Muniain, concedes a free-kick and earns a yellow card. That means he will be suspended for the match against Levante next weekend.
44'
It's all Barca at the moment. Messi is involved again, this time coming inside from the right and shaping to shoot. He skips past a challenge and then eventually gets his shot away, only to see it blocked.
42'
Barcelona spurn another fine chance of extending their lead. Messi races forward through the middle and picks a good pass out to Neymar in space to his left. The Brazilian just has to shoot, but he tries to cut on to his right foot and Laporte makes the tackle.
40'
Balenziaga gets yellow.
Yellow card now for Balenziaga. The left-back is struggling out there and he is left perplexed by Suarez's dummy and he resorts to dragging the former Liverpool star back, earning a booking.
38'
Fantastic move by Barca. A wayward pass in defence initially puts them under pressure, but Mathieu sweeps up, links well with Busquets and Alba, before Messi takes it on in the middle. The Argentine star charges forward and slips a pass down the right for Alves, whose cross is deep. Suarez rises to meet it at the back post, but he can't quite get a header on target.
36'
It is already clear that Athletic's intensity has dropped off. It would have been a surprise to see them last the entire match with such tactics, but Barca are starting to pass the ball around in their own half with significantly less opposition. An ominous sign for the hosts.
34'
From the following corner, Athletic feel they should be given a penalty, as replays suggest Busquets was constantly tugging Laporte's shirt. The referee ultimately gives a free-kick to Barca, though.
32'
AGAINST THE POST! Almost a reply for the hosts! Pique meets a cross with his head, but the ball loops up into the air in inviting fashion. Aduriz rises above Mathieu to meet it and sends his nodded effort against the right-hand upright.
30'
ATHLETIC SOMEHOW ESCAPE! What a chance for Barca to get a third. Messi plays a clever pass into the area for Xavi, who coolly strides past the goalkeeper. The captain decides not to swing his left foot at the ball with an open goal at his mercy, instead trying to tee up the Argentina star. The ball is knocked on to the goal frame and then Suarez volleys into a crowd of players.
28'
Barca really have coped well since their initial struggles in this match. Athletic continue to press with high intensity, but Luis Enrique's men have been lethal on the break. Their aggressive intimidation tactics have ultimately been unsuccessful.
26'
L. Suárez has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by L. Messi.
GOAL!!! ATHLETIC NOW HAVE A MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB! Etxeita surrenders possession inside his own half and Suarez pounces, before slipping a pass towards the right for Messi. He then patiently waits for space to open up, teeing up the Uruguayan, who steers home from the edge of the area.
25'
BRAVO! Susaeta tries his luck directly from the free-kick and drives a ferocious effort towards goal, but the goalkeeper dives to his left and palms it behind.
24'
Good play by Athletic as they catch Barca on the break. Muniain leaves the ball for Aduriz, who cuts in from the left and beats Pique. The Spain international hauls him down, though, conceding a free-kick.
23'
Barca are starting to find more space in the final third now and Rakitic is the latest to march forward. He moves into the area vacated by Suarez down the right and he crosses into the centre, but Etxeita clears easily.
21'
IRAIZOZ DENIES A CERTAIN GOAL! Barca work the ball brilliantly down the left, as Neymar flicks the ball on to Messi, just before being clattered by De Marcos. The Argentine gets into the area and chips a clever cross to the back post for Suarez, who looks destined to nod in, but the goalkeeper launches himself across his goal to make a crucial save.
20'
BARCA ESCAPE! The visitors clear the free-kick fairly easily, but Athletic remain on the front foot. Muniain takes up possession out on the left and he curls a right-footed delivery into the area. Aduriz meets it with an acrobatic effort, only for Bravo to tip it wide.
19'
The hosts win themselves a free-kick out of very little now, about 30 yards from the Barca goal. Aduriz went up to meet a lofted pass, but he was nudged over by Pique.
17'
That goal will certainly help settle Barca, who had started to look a little rattled by Athletic's somewhat aggressive approach during the opening quarter-of-an-hour. Still, the home side have plenty of time to turn this around.
15'
L. Messi has scored a goal for Barcelona!
GOAL!!! BARCELONA HAVE THE LEAD! Messi strides up to take the free-kick and his effort strikes against the wall. However, it only takes a deflection and, although Iraizoz gets a hand to it, the goalkeeper cannot prevent Barca going one up.
Free-kick to Barca now about 30 yards from goal, as Muniain tries to bring the ball down on his chest, but the ball brushes against his arm. Messi stands over it as San Mames hushes in expectation.
14'
Suarez is left in a heap again in the middle of the pitch. The Uruguayan is kicked on his heel by Etxeita and he goes down, who clearly isn't impressed with the treatment he is being given so far.
12'
Barcelona are really being made to battle here. Athletic are getting in the faces of the away side's players, forcing errors and lapses in concentration at the back, though Valverde's men have not managed to take advantage just yet. You have to wonder how long Athletic can keep up this intensity, though.
10'
De Marcos lucky to escape a booking there. The right-back is sticking to Neymar like glue, following him absolutely everywhere at the moment, but on this occasion get far too aggressive and takes the Brazilian out from behind.
8'
Good defending by Rico, as the Athletic midfielder tracks back down the left, following the run of Suarez, who picks up possession. The Uruguayan tries to get clear around the outside and ends up on his backside, but the referee sides with Athletic, allowing play to continue.
7'
Aduriz showcases some fine movement as he loses his man and gets across to the near post to meet the corner delivery, but he doesn't get clean contact on his effort and it ultimately lands on the roof of the net.
6'
Sloppy mistake there by Alba. The Barca left-back seems to be trying to play a back-pass to Bravo, but his effort goes nowhere near the goalkeeper and straight out for a corner. This is a good chance for the hosts to capitalise.
5'
Good play by Neymar as the Brazilian brings down a lofted pass on the left flank, holds off the aggressive De Marcos and keeps the attack moving. He swiftly gets the ball back again and skips past the Athletic right-back, though he does well to snuff out the danger at the second time of asking.
3'
Athletic are doing their best to make Barca uncomfortable during these opening stages. The hosts are pressing right from the front, forcing the visitors back into their own area and they almost draw an error from Pique as his back-pass to Bravo is a little hard, but the former Real Sociedad man - who receives plenty of jeers - deals with it well.
1'
Off we go! Athletic get us underway at San Mames.
Hello and welcome to the LIVE coverage of the Spanish Primera Division clash between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona. My name is Ryan Benson and I shall be describing the action at San Mames for you today, with the away side looking to capitalise on Real Madrid's derby slip-up on Saturday.
CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS:
Athletic starting XI (4-2-3-1): Iraizoz; De Marcos, Etxeita, Laporte, Balenziaga; San Jose, Mikel Rico; Susaeta, Unai Lopez, Muniain; Aduriz.
Barcelona starting XI (4-3-3): Bravo; Dani Alves, Pique, Mathieu, Alba; Xavi, Busquets, Rakitic; Suarez, Messi, Neymar.
Barcelona subs: Ter Stegen, Adriano, Mascherano, Bartra, Rafinha, Iniesta, Pedro.
Of course, much of the attention in Spain this weekend has been on Real Madrid's derby-day demolition by Atletico on Saturday, blowing the title race wide open. A win for Carlo Ancelotti's men would have put them 10 points clear of the champions and seven ahead of Luis Enrique's men, but as it stands, Barca could close to within a solitary point should they win in Bilbao today.
Barca arrive in Bilbao in fine form domestically, suffering just a single defeat in the league since November and, although that loss came in nearby San Sebastian at the hands of David Moyes' Real Sociedad, Messi & Co. will be confident of picking up a result against an Athletic side who have struggled all season. The reported dressing room troubles that seemed to be dogging the Catalan club appear to have been vanquished and they look destined to push Real all the way.
The players are now out on the pitch as kick-off approaches!
Athletic come into the clash in 13th place in La Liga, just five points clear of the bottom three after struggling to combine their domestic and UEFA Champions League campaigns. Nevertheless, Ernesto Valverde's men have more than enough talent at their disposal to cause Barca problems, although they will miss Andoni Iraola, who sits out due to injuryand he is joined by the suspended Ander Iturraspe.
Athletic 0-2 Barcelona: The referee puts the hosts out of their misery and ends a rather one-sided first half. Valverde's men began the contest well, putting the away side under pressure with some very effectively pressing, but eventually the quality of Messi & Co. shone through, even if the opening goal had a stroke of luck to it. Aduriz has looked a threat for the home side, but Suarez, Messi and Neymar have been lethal on the break. Barca appear to be well on their way to moving within a point of Real.
Athletic 2-5 Barcelona: The referee ends the match and finally puts Athletic out of their misery after a quite sublime display of attacking football from the visitors. Valverde's men seemingly brought themselves back into the contest with a Rico goal, but Barca ultimately blew them away, with Messi, Neymar and Suarez in devastating form. Etxeita's red card won't have helped the home side, but the match was already lost before his rash tackle. Victory sees the Catalans close to within a point of leaders Real!
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