Athletic 0-2 Barcelona: Messi on target as Barca go 8 points clear of Real Madrid

Lionel Messi scored his 12th La Liga goal of the season as Barcelona won at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday night to extend their lead at the top of the table.

Barcelona keep rolling at the start of the season to record their ninth win of the campaign in just 10 matches. Goals from Lionel Messi and Paulinho secured the victory, although it could have been a different story had Inaki Williams and Aritz Aduriz taken their first-half opportunities. However, Ernesto Valverde will be delighted with the professionalism of his side's performance against his former club.

Match Report

7: The Athletic manager Jose Angel Ziganda is a former team-mate of Valverde at Bilbao, so the pair know each other well. They have two wins apiece from clashes with one another in management. 

So far, Bilbao have been compact and solid as Lionel Messi has the first shot on goal but it's comfortable for Kepa. It was a poor clearance by Unai Nunez.

15: CHANCE! Finally, an opportunity as Lekue gets behind the Barcelona defence on the right, but as he cuts inside, his shot is blocked with the chest of Umtiti. 

He's claiming handball but it's clearly hit his midriff before going behind for a corner.

18: SAVE!

20: CHANCES! Oh, how are Bilbao not in front. First, Williams does brilliantly to break the offside trap with a clever free-kick, but his cross is scrambled clear by Busquets when he really should've gone for goal. 

Moments later, Aduriz is clean through, but his shot is tame and saved low to his left by Ter Stegen. What a glorious flurry of chances for the home side! Aduriz was one-on-one and really should've scored his ninth goal of the season.

Aduriz is clean through, but his shot is tame and saved low to his left by Ter Stegen. What a glorious flurry of chances for the home side! Aduriz was one-on-one and really should've scored his ninth goal of the season.

22: WHAT A MISS!

It's fabulous football, as Paulinho and Suarez tee up Lionel Messi. His twinkle toes take him through the Bilbao defence, and past Kepa, but he somehow strikes the post from point blank range! I'm not sure I believe my own eyes...

37: GOAL! ATHLETIC BILBAO 0-1 BARCELONA (Messi)

What a goal! It's a brilliant goal from Lionel Messi as he quickens the pace to play a one-two with Paulinho before encouraging Alba forward down the left. 

The cut-back is perfectly weighted back into the path of Messi who flashes the ball with his left foot low to Kepa's left and into the net. 

It's his 16th goal in all competitions this season.

39: OFF THE POST!

San Jose heads Rakitic's corner clear as Barcelona look to turn the screw before half-time. But they can't escape for long as Messi plays a one-two with Rakitic, and the Argentine lays the ball on to Paulinho but the midfielder's shot crashes against the angle of post and crossbar!

43: BLOCK! It looks like Messi is lining it up. Is he going to try to sneak one under the wall? In the end, Suarez comes running up to the ball from the left and tries to bend one with his right foot, but it's blocked as the wall does its job.

49: BLOCK! Andre Gomes takes an age to shoot, and in the end Messi takes it off him and tries to wriggle through. Bilbao get a toe in and the shot finally comes in from Gomes and the ball is blocked eventually.

53: OFF THE BAR!

This is much better as Inaki Williams stretches his legs and gets down the right. His ball is towards Aduriz but Umtiti hooks the ball behind for a corner.

From the set piece, Bilbao come so close to equalising as Raul Garcia rises above everyone at the far post but can only direct his header onto the top of the crossbar! Pique did just about enough to put him off.

65: SAVE! Inaki Williams strikes from the edge of the box, but it's a comfortable save for Ter Stegen as it's directed low at the middle of the goal.

66: GREAT BLOCK!

Unai Nunez looks some player. He gets across the ground quickly to deny Suarez from close range. It's a brilliant block from the 20-year-old to keep his side in this contest.

76: WIDE! Another long-range shot from fully 30 yards isn't going to trouble Ter Stegen as Benat sees the lights and loses his head with a speculative effort that goes wide.

79: SHOT! Aduriz is fed the ball by Cordoba this time and the veteran striker cuts inside onto his right foot and shoots low, finding the gloves of Ter Stegen.

85: SAVE! Ter Stegen gets down to deny Aduriz at the near post from Garcia's corner. He beat Umtiti to the ball. What a good chance for the home side but it was strong hands from the keeper to push the ball away from danger.

90+: GOAL! ATHLETIC BILBAO 0-2 BARCELONA (Paulinho)

It's the classic counter-punch as Bilbao are over committed going forward. Messi breaks with the ball and lays the ball to his left to Suarez... Kepa does well to keep his shot out but Paulinho is there to tap in the rebound. Barcelona take home the three points.

So Barcelona regain their four-point lead at the top of La Liga as goals from Lionel Messi and Paulinho seal a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at the San Mames.