Athletic 0-2 Barcelona: Messi and Paulinho seal win on Valverde's return home

Athletic 0-2 Barcelona: Messi and Paulinho seal win on Valverde's return home

Messi celebra su gol en San Mamés
Messi celebra su gol en San Mamés | EFE

Messi scored in the first half and Paulinho the second as Barça remained unbeaten

However, Athletic had their chances and Marc-Andre ter Stegen had to be at his best

Goals from Lionel Messi and Paulinho helped Barcelona beat Athletic Club 2-0 on Ernesto Valverde's return to San Mames. 

MATCH FACTS
LaLiga Santander, jornada 10

Athletic de Bilbao

0 ________________ 2

FC Barcelona

LINE UP

Athletic

Kepa; Bóveda, Unai, Laporte, Lekue; San José (Beñat, 68'), Iturraspe; Williams (Susaeta, 83'), Raúl García, Córdoba; Aduriz.

Barça

Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Umtiti, Jordi Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Paulinho; André Gomes (Semedo, 82'), Messi y Luis Suárez.

Goles

0-1 Messi (36'). 0-2 Paulinho (91').

Árbitro

Martínez Munuera (Valenciano). TA: Iturraspe (40'), Busquets (46'), Piqué (62'), Paulinho (74'), Umtiti (80').

Incidencias

Partido de la jornada 10 de LaLiga Santander disputado en San Mamés ante 43.750 espectadores.

Messi opened the scoring in the first half but Barca were reliant on Marc-Andre ter Stegen keeping them in front before Paulinho sealed the three points in stoppage time. 

Barca now have 28 points from a possible 30 after 10 games in La Liga and remain four points clear of second-placed Valencia, who beat Alaves earlier in the day. 

In an entertaining game in Bilbao, Athletic had the best of the early chances. 

Aritz Aduriz was denied by Ter Stegen when he was one-on-one, while Iñaki Williams also wasted chances for the home side. 

However, Barça grew into the game and should have taken the lead when Messi hit the post after a move which involved Sergi Roberto, Ivan Rakitic, Paulinho and Luis Suarez. 

Messi did eventually open the scoring, though, applying the finishing touch to a move he had constructed. 

The Argentine played a one-two with Paulinho, before sending the ball left to Alba, who returned the ball to him again to swipe home from 10 yards. 

Paulinho then hit the bar after Messi had set him up as Barca went into the break with a 1-0 lead. 

Athletic were the better side in the second half but encountered Ter Stegen in fine form and a commanding Samuel Umtiti. 

A number of half chances were easily saved by the German, who then produced a stunning save from an Aduriz header after Raul Garcia had hit the bar as the hosts sought a deserved equaliser. 

But as they piled forward in stoppage time, they were caught on the break. 

Sergi Roberto fed Messi, who played in Suarez. The Uruguayan's shot was saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga but Paulinho was on hand to slot home the rebound. 

Barça's Valverde are now unbeaten in 14 games in all competitions and this is officially the club's best ever start to the season after 10 games. 

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