Barcelona 2-0 Athletic: Messi & Alcacer keep title bid on track

A brilliant first half performance took care of Athletic Bilbao as Barcelona’s unbeaten start to the season stretched to 29 games going into the international break. 

Goals from Paco Alcacer and Lionel Messi in the first 45 minutes wrapped up a 2-0 win against coach Ernesto Valverde’s former side. 

With Luis Suarez suspended and Sergio Busquets injured, Alcacer came into the side and Ivan Rakitic dropped into a deeper role. 

That allowed Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho to come in the XI, too, with Andres Iniesta let on the bench after recently recovering from a hamstring injury. 

Alcacer opened the scoring when he steered home from 15 yards after good work from Messi and Jordi Alba. 

Messi then doubled Barca’s lead when he rifled into the bottom corner from 18 yards after being found by Dembele. 

But for the woodwork, the home side would have been out of sight by the break. 

Philippe Coutinho hit it twice, the first a thumping effort from an Alba pullback and the second a deft touch at the end of a good team move. 

Paulinho also hit the post, taking Barca’s woodwork count to 38 for the season in all competitions. 

Barca eased off after the break and Athletic came into the game, but they rarely threatened Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s goal despite seeing plenty of the ball. 

Valverde’s side temporarily move 11 points clear of Atletico Madrid, who play Villarreal later on Sunday, with 75 points from their 29 games.