Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta ensured Athletic Bilbao could not duplicate their European form against Barcelona Saturday.
Marcelo Bielsa's Basque side has displayed Jekyll and Hyde like qualities this season, slaying giants in the Europa League while often struggling in La Liga.
It didn't help that they traveled to the Camp Nou Saturday where Lionel Messi and company were waiting.
The match remained scoreless until the 40th minute. Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez nipped in to steal the ball near midfield. He fed Lionel Messi, who reversed the action to an onrushing Andres Iniesta. The midfielder drove to goal before smashing the ball viciously past Bilbao keeper Gorka Iraizoz to open the scoring.
1-0 Barcelona.
The second half wouldn't provide any relief. In a game where Bilbao would only manage one shot on goal, the outcome was not really ever in doubt.
In the 58th minute, Barcelona's Cristian Tello danced his way through the area before being brought down by Javi Martinez at the edge of the six yard box.
Penalty Barca.
Lionel Messi stepped up to the mark and rolled his penalty into the bottom corner to pad the lead and ease Pep Guardiola's mind.
2-0 Barcelona.
That score would remain to the final whistle and see Barcelona keep pace with a Real Madrid side who were dominant in a 5-1 win away to Osasuna.
The margin at the top of La Liga remains at six points with Jose Mourinho's men sitting on 78 points and Barcelona on 72.
Both teams have eight games remaining before the end of their domestic campaigns.
The two sides meet in person April 22 in the Camp Nou.
Marcelo Bielsa's Basque side has displayed Jekyll and Hyde like qualities this season, slaying giants in the Europa League while often struggling in La Liga.
It didn't help that they traveled to the Camp Nou Saturday where Lionel Messi and company were waiting.
The match remained scoreless until the 40th minute. Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez nipped in to steal the ball near midfield. He fed Lionel Messi, who reversed the action to an onrushing Andres Iniesta. The midfielder drove to goal before smashing the ball viciously past Bilbao keeper Gorka Iraizoz to open the scoring.
1-0 Barcelona.
The second half wouldn't provide any relief. In a game where Bilbao would only manage one shot on goal, the outcome was not really ever in doubt.
In the 58th minute, Barcelona's Cristian Tello danced his way through the area before being brought down by Javi Martinez at the edge of the six yard box.
Penalty Barca.
Lionel Messi stepped up to the mark and rolled his penalty into the bottom corner to pad the lead and ease Pep Guardiola's mind.
That score would remain to the final whistle and see Barcelona keep pace with a Real Madrid side who were dominant in a 5-1 win away to Osasuna.
The margin at the top of La Liga remains at six points with Jose Mourinho's men sitting on 78 points and Barcelona on 72.
Both teams have eight games remaining before the end of their domestic campaigns.
The two sides meet in person April 22 in the Camp Nou.
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