Barcelona welcomed Athletic Bilbao to Camp Nou on Saturday afternoon knowing that a win would move them to within one point of La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
Bilbao had a number of excellent chances in what was an open first period, but Paco Alcacer's first league goal for Barcelona and a Lionel Messi free kick saw the hosts lead 2-0 at the break.
Aleix Vidal then made it three in the 67th minute as Luis Enrique's side continued their winning run.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from Camp Nou as the Spanish champions Barcelona welcome Basque outfit Athletic Bilbao. Barcelona are in desperate need of all three points as they chase down Real Madrid at the summit, but victory for Bilbao this afternoon would move Ernesto Valverde's side to within one point of the Champions League positions. Stay tuned for the action!
Barcelona have won six of their last seven games against Bilbao in all competitions and have recorded 12 straight home wins over the Basque outfit in La Liga, which is some record. This season, the pair have already met three times – Barcelona winning 1-0 at San Mames in the league back in August, before knocking Bilbao out of the Copa del Rey with a 4-3 aggregate success last month.
Bilbao have not actually beaten Barcelona in the league since December 2013 and the Basque side have not won at Camp Nou in Spain's top flight since November 2001, which is an indication of Barcelona's dominance in this fixture. What's more, Bilbao boss Valverde has won just two of his last 17 games against Barcelona as a La Liga manager and neither of those victories came on the road.
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Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Camp Nou. Bilbao have had a free week to prepare for this one, but Barcelona were in Copa del Rey action on Wednesday – winning 2-1 at Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their semi-final. Right, teams...
TEAMS!
BARCA: Ter Stegen; Vidal, Umtiti, Pique, Mathieu; Turan, Rafinha, Gomes; Neymar, Alcacer, Messi
BILBAO: Iraizoz; De Marcos, Balenziaga, Laporte, Yeray; San Jose, Iturraspe; Muniain, Garcia, Lekue; Williams
Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has made six changes to the team that recorded a 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday night, and among those to drop out are Luis Suarez. Paco Alcacer is handed a rare chance to impress alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar in the final third, while Aleix Vidal, Jeremy Mathieu, Arda Turan, Rafinha and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are all in the XI. Enrique has shuffled his pack for the visit of Bilbao here.
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As for Bilbao, the big team news is the return of full-back Yeray Alvarez, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer towards the end of December, but has shown incredible strength and resilience to return to the field in early February. Whatever happens on the field, that is the biggest story of the day at Camp Nou. Inaki Williams will start through the middle as experienced striker Aritz Aduriz drops to the bench.
So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff on this mild afternoon in Barcelona. I shall speak about the away side a little bit later, but let's start with Barcelona. Enrique's side are still just about in the running for the La Liga title this season, but they really cannot afford to drop any more points due to Real Madrid's form and points total.
Twelve wins, six draws and two defeats have left Barcelona with 42 La Liga points from 20 matches, and that total is enough to see them occupy second position in the table, albeit level on points with third-place Sevilla. Leaders Real Madrid, meanwhile, have 46 points and also have a game in hand - against Valencia - following their involvement in the Club World Cup at the end of 2016.
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Barcelona have actually not lost in the league since suffering a 4-3 defeat at Celta Vigo at the start of October, but they have drawn two of their last four in Spain's top flight. Enrique's side followed a 1-1 draw away to Villarreal on January 8 with wins over Las Palmas and Eibar, but were then held 1-1 at Real Betis last time out - where they needed a late equaliser from a certain Luis Suarez.
As mentioned, Barcelona have also put themselves in a strong position to make the final of the Copa del Rey after recording a 2-1 win at Atletico in the first leg of their semi-final on Wednesday night. This month will also see the return of the Champions League as the Spanish giants prepare to take on French champions Paris Saint-Germain in what should be a fascinating tie.
In terms of the league, Barcelona will travel to Alaves and welcome Leganes in their two fixtures after this one, before making the trip to Atletico on February 26. They will need Real Madrid to wobble in order to stand a chance of retaining the Spanish title, but a strong run would put serious pressure on Los Blancos. With kickoff fast approaching, here is a smart vine of Ronaldinho...
🔵🔴 #ForçaBarça!!! 🔵🔴
[👻 FCBSnap] pic.twitter.com/KJu72WvsQX — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 4, 2017
As for Bilbao, a record of nine wins, five draws and six defeats has brought the Basque outfit 32 La Liga points this season, and that total currently leaves them seventh in the table. They are just two points behind sixth-place Villarreal and indeed just four points off fourth-place Atletico as they chase down a Champions League position. The visitors will be confident ahead of this match.
Bilbao just missed out on the top four last season as they finished in fifth position and like Barcelona, Valverde's side are in European action later this month as they prepare to take on APOEL in the first knockout round of the Europa League. It will be a balancing act over the next few months as Bilbao look to remain competitive in both Europe and the league this season.
Bilbao are currently on a five-game unbeaten run in the league and will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 win over Sporting Gijon last weekend. Three of their last four league matches have finished level, however, which includes a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid on January 22.
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Only Real Madrid (29) have collected more home points than Bilbao (24) in Spain's top flight this season. However, the Basque outfit have struggled on the road – winning just two of their nine matches and losing five times in the process. They have also managed just seven away goals this season, which is the joint-worst record in the league alongside Sporting Gijon.
10 - Lionel Messi has had a hand in 10 goals in 2017, more than any other La Liga player (7 goals, 3 assists - all competitions). Gold. pic.twitter.com/R2GRRrCWw2 — OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 1, 2017
Here we go then - both sets of players join us on the pitch ahead of the first period at Camp Nou. Can Barcelona close the gap on league leaders Real Madrid to one point, or will Bilbao move closer to the top four by avoiding defeat? It should be entertaining fixture from Spain's top flight!
KICKOFF! Bilbao kick things off at Camp Nou...
... this is far from Barcelona's strongest team and Bilbao might well fancy their chances of recording a rare victory at Camp Nou this afternoon. Quite a scrappy start to the match as both sides battle for possession, but I am sure the game will settle down in the next few minutes.
CHANCE! Super chance for the home side to take the lead as Alcacer breaks past the Bilbao defence before feeding a low cross into Neymar, but the Brazilian's low effort is wide.
POST! Beans! Incredible! Bilbao come close to making the breakthrough as Garcia holds off Gomes inside the Barcelona box before attempting to pick out the bottom corner, but his effort hits the post. Both teams have had chances to open the scoring in the last 60 seconds.
No sign of Bilbao sitting back at the moment as the away side continue to commit players in the final third, but Barcelona are always dangerous on the counter-attack. High-tempo football.
Williams's pace takes him into a wide position and the number 11 then delivers a low cross towards Lekue, but Pique is on hand to make the clearance. Bilbao are playing the better football in the final third as they continue to create space, and they are showing Barcelona no respect at the moment.
Just a few signs that Barcelona are starting to settle as they enjoy a sustained period of possession, but Iraizoz has not had a save to make in the opening 10 minutes of this match.
You just get the feeling that the first goal this afternoon - if there indeed is one - could be crucial in terms of the final result. Barcelona have decent chance when Mathieu breaks into a forward position, but the Frenchman's cross is poor and Bilbao can clear their lines once again.
CHANCE! Stunning chance for Bilbao to take the lead as Lekue delivers a sensational cross onto the head of Williams, but the number 11 somehow places his effort wide!
Barcelona are really struggling to keep the ball at the moment as Bilbao continue to hunt in packs. You just get the feeling that the visitors need to score during this impressive spell.
Defeat for Barcelona this afternoon and they might as well kiss goodbye their chances of retaining the title this season. I still expect the home side to collect all the points from this fixture, but Bilbao really should have scored at least twice in the opening 17 minutes of this football match.
GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Bilbao (Alcacer)
Breakthrough! Barcelona take the lead in the 18th minute of this match as Neymar beats his full-back on the left before delivering a low cross into Alcacer and the striker fires under Iraizoz!
Bilbao might have scored twice already at Camp Nou, but they missed a couple of excellent chances and now find themselves 1-0 down following Alcacer's first league goal for Barcelona. The champions are full of it at the moment as they go searching for their second of the afternoon.
BOOKING! Pique (Barcelona) is booked for fouling Garcia just outside the Barcelona box and Bilbao now have a free kick in a very dangerous position here...
... Iturraspe takes the free kick, but his effort was always too high.
San Jose has a strike deflected over the Barcelona crossbar as Bilbao continue to play good stuff in the final third of the field. The visitors are very unfortunate to be behind at this stage.
BOOKING! Iturraspe (Bilbao) is booked for a poor tackle on Alcacer.
Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining and it has been a brilliant game of football at Camp Nou. Bilbao have been impressive, but Barcelona lead courtesy of Alcacer's first league goal of the season. I would be very surprised if we had seen the last of the goals here though!
Garcia hits one from distance, but it is a comfortable save for Ter Stegen.
Mascherano has just been sent to warm-up here and you wonder whether Enrique might be considering a defensive change. Barcelona might lead, but Bilbao have been the better side and surely the Basque outfit will take one of their many opportunities. It has been a super game here.
SAVE! Williams uses his pace to drive into the Barcelona box and he looks to pick out the bottom corner, but Ter Stegen is on hand to make a really smart save. Still Barcelona lead!
BOOKING! De Marcos (Bilbao) is booked for a foul on Neymar.
Sometimes you have to ride your luck in matches, and that has been the case for Barcelona in the opening 36 minutes of this match. Bilbao have had three or four brilliant chances to register, but it is the home side that lead entering the final stages of what has been an entertaining first period.
Good grief. Balenziaga tries his luck from distance and comes close to catching out Ter Stegen, but the ball drops wide of the post. Barcelona have struggled to keep hold of the ball in midfield positions this afternoon, but one piece of brilliance from Neymar and Alcacer sees the hosts lead.
GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Bilbao (Messi)
Barcelona have their second of the match as Messi's free kick from a wide position finds a route past the Bilbao goalkeeper. The strike had power and direction, but Iraizoz really should have made the save. It has to go down as an error from the experienced Spanish goalkeeper here!
CHANCE! Sensational from Neymar as the Brazilian dances into the Bilbao box and bends one towards the bottom corner, but his effort is just wide of the far post.
Bilbao are enjoying some possession as we approach the half-time break here.
HALF-TIME: Barcelona 2-0 Bilbao
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Barcelona leading Bilbao 2-0 at Camp Nou courtesy of goals from Alcacer and Messi. Bilbao have had some excellent chances to get on the scoresheet, but clinical finishing from the home side has been the difference here.
STATISTICS! Barcelona shaded the first-half possession (58%), while they managed five attempts, but just two of those - the two goals - were on target. Bilbao, on the other hand, had three attempts on target in the opening 45 minutes, but have been unable to find a route past Ter Stegen. Three yellow cards to report - Pique for Barcelona, and Iturraspe and De Marcos for Bilbao.
BENCH WATCH! Barcelona have an embarrassment of riches on their bench this afternoon, with Luis Suarez, Denis Suarez, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto and Ivan Rakitic among those available. Bilbao, meanwhile, have the likes of Aduriz, Eraso, Benat and Susaeta on what is a very attacking bench.
RESTART! Barcelona resume the action here...
... BARCELONA SUB! Mascherano has replaced Pique for the home side.
I am not sure if Pique has been replaced due to an injury, or because the centre-back is on a yellow card against the pace of Williams and one wrong challenge could see the Spaniard handed a red card. Anyway, Bilbao have to score the next goal to stand a chance of a comeback here.
Neymar has been back to his best for Barcelona this afternoon and the Brazilian is full of running in the early stages of the second period. Bilbao just cannot deal with the attacker at the moment.
CHANCE! Rafinha heads a Turan cross just wide of the post after finding himself all alone inside the Bilbao box. It really should have been Barcelona's third of the match here.
BILBAO SUB! Aduriz replaces Lekue for the away side.
Rakitic is receiving some instructions from Enrique and the Croatian will soon enter the field here as Barcelona look to respond with a change of their own. Might well be for the injured Rafinha.
SAVE! Ter Stegen has to save a low strike from Garcia as Bilbao surprise Barcelona with a quick free kick. Rakitic continues to wait on the sidelines for the home side.
BARCELONA SUB! Rakitic replaces Rafinha, who took a blow to the face.
Rafinha's head has been bandaged at the side of the pitch and the midfielder is applauded by the home supporters as he heads down the tunnel. The Brazilian took a nasty blow to the head.
Little over 30 minutes of football remaining at Camp Nou and Barcelona still lead 2-0 courtesy of first-half goals from Alcacer and Messi. Bilbao are still a threat, however, and one goal for the visitors would hand us a very exciting conclusion to this match. Still plenty of football to be played.
CLOSE! Neymar just misses the post with a powerful strike!
CLOSE! Side-netting for Messi as he pounces on a Bilbao mistake.
BILBAO SUB! Bernat replaces San Jose for the away side.
Williams's pace has caused problems for Barcelona all afternoon, but the number 11's final pass has been disappointing. We have not seen too much from Aduriz since the striker entered the field, but there are plenty of gaps at the back for Barcelona as we enter the final 30 minutes here.
Quite a scrappy game in the last couple of minutes as the referee is forced to intervene following a number of late challenges. You still get the feeling that there are more goals in this one.
BARCELONA SUB! Messi - yes Messi - is replaced by Sergi Roberto.
Messi did not seem too pleased to be leaving the field, but he is now laughing and joking with the Barcelona bench so all seems well. Bilbao will certainly be pleased with that substitution!
GOAL! Barcelona 3-0 Bilbao (Vidal)
Barcelona have their third of the afternoon as right-back Vidal breaks into the Bilbao box before scuffing one into the far corner. Bit of an untidy finish, but they all count!
BOOKING! Laporte (Bilbao) is booked for a pull on Alcacer.
Little over 15 minutes of the second period remaining and Barcelona are closing on another win over Bilbao, who impressed in the first half, but failed to take any of their opportunities.
BILBAO SUB! Garcia is replaced by Eraso for the away side.
It is currently unclear whether Real Madrid's clash with Celta Vigo tomorrow night is going to go ahead due to adverse weather conditions, but Los Blancos will have two games in hand over Barcelona after this match. Little over 10 minutes of football remaining at Camp Nou here.
Possession football for Bilbao at the moment, but they are not going anywhere with it.
CHANCE! Super chance for Bilbao to register as Eraso breaks into the Barcelona box, but the attacker's low effort is wide of the far post. The visitors have had chances this afternoon.
Barcelona are going to collect all the points from this match, but the main story is the return of Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in December, but is back on the field this afternoon. What a sensational story and that is credit to his will-power and desire.
Little over five minutes of the second period remaining and in truth, not much has happened since Barcelona score their third and secured all the points. It has been a professional second-half performance from the reigning champions, who are moving one point behind Real Madrid.
I should not imagine that there will be much added time at the end of the 90 minutes here.
Turan curls a long-range effort over the Bilbao crossbar.
SAVE! Iraizoz saves a powerful strike from Vidal as Barcelona pass up the chance to score a fourth in the final stages here. Vidal has impressed once again for the champions.
Possession for Barcelona as we enter the first of three additional minutes here.
FULL-TIME: Barcelona 3-0 Bilbao
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Barcelona running out 3-0 winners over Bilbao to move to within one point of league leaders Real Madrid. Bilbao impressed in the first period, but struggled in the second. Thanks for joining us once again - until next time!
