Match ends, Athletic Club 2, Barcelona 3.
Ath BilbaoAthletic Bilbao2BarcelonaBarcelona3
Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao to go third in La Liga.
Athletic took an early lead through Inaki Williams, but teenager Pedri equalised with a header soon after.
Messi, who also hit the post twice, then scored when he collected Pedri's backheel and shot past Unai Simon.
A powerful first-time shot from Messi made it 3-1 and Barcelona held on for the victory, despite a late 20-yard strike from Athletic's Iker Muniain.
The win takes Ronald Koeman's side above Real Sociedad and Villarreal; they are five points behind second-placed Real Madrid and seven adrift of leaders Atletico Madrid, who have two games in hand.
This was the first game for Athletic since Marcelino replaced former head coach Gaizka Garitano, who was sacked hours after Sunday's 1-0 win over Elche.
Marcelino's side needed just three minutes to go ahead as Williams sprinted clear, then cut inside defender Clement Lenglet to score.
However, their lead lasted only 11 minutes as Messi's cross went over Simon's head and Frenkie de Jong hooked the ball to Pedri to equalise.
Messi's first goal came just before half time following a one-two with Pedri and he scored his second with a powerful first-time strike following Antoine Griezmann's square pass.
Argentina forward Messi then gave the ball away and Muniain scored from Alex Berenguer's pass but it was not enough to deny Barcelona a win.
Since losing 3-0 at home to Juventus in the Champions League on 8 December, Barcelona have gone seven La Liga matches unbeaten, with five wins and two draws.
Line-ups
Ath Bilbao
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Simón
- 21Capa
- 3Núñez
- 4Martínez
- 17BerchicheSubstituted forBalenziagaat 32'minutes
- 18De MarcosSubstituted forBerenguer Remiroat 65'minutes
- 27Vencedor
- 6VesgaBooked at 27minsSubstituted forGarcía Carrilloat 65'minutesBooked at 70mins
- 10Muniain
- 22GarcíaSubstituted forMorcilloat 80'minutes
- 9Williams
Substitutes
- 2Morcillo
- 7Gómez
- 11Córdoba
- 12Berenguer Remiro
- 13Ezkieta
- 14García Carrillo
- 15Lekue
- 16Sancet
- 19Kodro
- 20Villalibre
- 24Balenziaga
- 26Vicente
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1ter Stegen
- 2DestSubstituted forMinguezaat 75'minutes
- 4Araujo
- 15LengletBooked at 57mins
- 18Alba
- 21de Jong
- 5Busquets
- 16González
- 11DembéléSubstituted forBraithwaiteat 75'minutes
- 10Messi
- 7Griezmann
Substitutes
- 8Pjanic
- 9Braithwaite
- 12Puig
- 13Murara Neto
- 17Machado Trincão
- 23Umtiti
- 24Firpo
- 26Peña
- 28Mingueza
- 29De la Fuente
- Referee:
- Carlos del Cerro Grande
Match Stats
Home TeamAth BilbaoAway TeamBarcelona
- Possession
- Home43%
- Away57%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away9
- Corners
- Home3
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Athletic Club 2, Barcelona 3.
Goal!
Goal! Athletic Club 2, Barcelona 3. Iker Muniain (Athletic Club) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Alex Berenguer.
Post update
Pedri (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Mikel Balenziaga (Athletic Club).
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Lionel Messi (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Mikel Balenziaga (Athletic Club).
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Corner, Athletic Club. Conceded by Ronald Araujo.
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Foul by Lionel Messi (Barcelona).
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Jon Morcillo (Athletic Club) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alex Berenguer (Athletic Club) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right.
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Attempt saved. Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jordi Alba.
Substitution
Substitution, Athletic Club. Jon Morcillo replaces Raúl García.
Post update
Attempt missed. Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
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Hand ball by Unai Vencedor (Athletic Club).
Post update
Corner, Athletic Club. Conceded by Martin Braithwaite.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Martin Braithwaite replaces Ousmane Dembélé.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Óscar Mingueza replaces Sergiño Dest.
Post update
Foul by Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona).
Post update
Íñigo Martínez (Athletic Club) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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