Barcelona welcomed Athletic Bilbao to the Nou Camp on Saturday looking to secure the best-ever start to a Spanish season in the 113-year history of the league.
Gerard Pique handed Barcelona the lead after 22 minutes and it was quickly 2-0 moments later when Lionel Messi converted from close range. Meanwhile, Adriano finished off a sweeping move to make it three before the interval.
An uneventful start to the second period was livened up before the hour mark when Cesc Fabregas added a fourth, but Bilbao opened their tally through Ibai Gomez after 65 minutes.
The pressure did not stop from the home side, however, and Messi added his second of the match with a strike 20 minutes from time.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary below.
Evening all! We have a real classic on the cards as Bilbao travel to Barcelona. The Catalans have won 10 of their last 11 matches in all competitions. Meanwhile, Bilbao have won just four of their last 16 games in all competitions.
Teams:
Barcelona: Valdes; Adriano, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Xavi, Fabregas; Busquets; Iniesta, Messi, Pedro
Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz; Borde, Amorebieta, Ekiza, Chimeno; Iturraspe, Susaeta, Herrera; De Marcos, Gomez, Aduriz
Should the home side secure all three points this evening then it will be the best-ever start to a Spanish season by any side in the 113-year history, overhauling Real Madrid's record set in the 1991/92 season. There is an extra incentive!
Lionel Messi will also continue to chase down Gerd Muller's record of 85 goals in a calendar year. The Argentine is currently on 82 goals, but has scored two in each of his last four matches. He will be confident of adding to that tally against a Bilbao side that have lost five of their last seven meetings with Barcelona.
Here we go then. Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Check. Full house at the Nou Camp? Check. The players are ready. The referee is ready. Let's get this La Liga clash underway.
Bilbao get the action underway and immediately play the ball back to Borja Ekiza. However, as expected, Barcelona win it back within seconds and their usual passing style has begun.
It's good pressing from Bilbao in the early stages of the match. Xavi collects possession in midfield before attempting to find Busquets, but Susaeta and Ander Herrera were hassling and harrying the Spanish midfielder. You just get the feeling that they will have to do a lot of that this evening.
Again it's good work from Bilbao as Susaeta closes the door on Cesc Fabregas who had attempted to combine with Lionel Messi on the edge of the penalty area. But it is the home side that have taken control of the ball in the opening five minutes of action.
Barcelona continue to pass and probe in the early stages of this match. As expected Xavi and Iniesta have both been involved, but the home side are yet to really threaten the Bilbao goal. Meanwhile, Pedro has seen little of the ball inside the opening seven minutes.
Decent pressure from Bilbao forces Victor Valdes into a half-hearted clearance, but they cannot turn their position into a shooting opportunity and the danger is cleared by Gerard Pique. But the away side will be pleased with their opening nine minutes of the action at the Nou Camp.
Another Barcelona attack is broken up by good Bilbao defending as Amorebieta breaks from the defence to take possession away from the little Spaniard. I know I am going to regret saying this. But Messi has not been involved in this match thus far. Like I said, I know I will regret it.
Not a great deal to report in terms of attacking intent in the past few minutes. Barcelona have possession of the ball, but pressure from Bilbao is preventing the home side from forcing the issue in the attacking third. That said, Bilbao have been nowhere near Valdes's goal thus far.
Highlight of the match thus far comes from Iniesta as he collects possession outside the penalty area before dancing into the box. Just incredible control in a tight area. The home side again pass and probe outside the box, but again it breaks down and the danger is cleared by Ekiza.
Still the possession is dominated by Barcelona in the midfield area. But it is ever so tight in the centre of the field with Bilbao flooding that area to good effect. Pedro has been a passenger thus far standing on the right wing.
Bilbao gain ground in the final third as Ibai Gomez finds the run of Aritz Aduriz, but the striker looses his balance at the vital moment and the danger is cleared by Pique. Meanwhile, first real sign of Pedro as he advances down the right wing, but he cannot find a cross and it drifts out for a goal kick.
CHANCE! Best opportunity of the opening period comes to the home side as Messi finds Iniesta in the penalty area, but the Spaniard is crowded out at the vital moment and the danger is cleared for a corner.
GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Athletic Bilbao (Pique)
Barcelona take the lead after 22 minutes as Pique finds himself all alone in the penalty area before striking home from close range. Where on earth was the marking?
One of the most unlikely of scorers for Barcelona. But that will not mind one bit. It had been a fairly scrappy opening 22 minutes or so. But the goal changes everything. Now it is up to Bilbao to display some attacking intent.
Suddenly it's all Barcelona with Pedro and Messi both involved around the edge of the box, but Herrera steps across to clear the danger. But it comes back with interest. Bilbao just need to settle with the ball.
GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Athletic Bilbao (Messi)
So much for settling with the ball. Messi gathers a long pass from Xavi before finishing from close range. The Argentine just simply cannot stop scoring.
And just like that Barcelona may have just secured the three points. It has happened so often this season. Teams think that they are playing well and suddenly the Catalan outfit move up a few gears and it is game over.
Decent response from the away side with Oscar de Marcos and Gomez attempting to combine in an attacking area, but the danger is quickly quelled as Pique finds Busquets. It is possession football at the moment for the home side.
Couple of half-chances for the home side to make it three as Messi picks up possession outside the penalty area, but he can only curl his effort over the crossbar. Meanwhile, moments before Pedro had an strike tipped wide by Iraizoz. Bilbao are really struggling at the moment.
Bilbao force their first corner of the match as Adriano turns a De Marcos effort wide of the post. But the set piece from Herrera is poor and the danger is cleared. The home side launch an immediate counter attack, but Messi is ruled offside and play is resumed with Iraizoz.
Chance for the home side as Barcelona force a free kick outside the penalty area, but Messi's effort is over the crossbar. Remember, the Argentine is just two goals short of Gerd Muller's record of 85 goals in a calendar year. If (when) he breaks it. Will it ever be surpassed?!
Bilbao are really struggling to gain any sort of control in this match at the moment. Every single time they launch an attack it breaks down and the numbers they commit forward are exploited. They just need some sort of inspiration to get themselves back into the match.
CHANCE! Wonderful opportunity for Fabregas to make it 3-0 as Messi finds the midfielder on the edge of the penalty area, but Iraizoz gets down well to make the save and the danger is cleared. You do worry for Bilbao in the second period.
Little under five minutes of the half remaining and Barcelona are in total control with possession of the ball. Jordi Alba picks up a slight knock for the home side, but he returns to the field of play with no apparent problem.
Pass, pass, pass. That gives you an idea of how this opening period is ending. No real attacking intent from Barcelona at the moment, but why should they with a 2-0 lead? Another goal would well and truly wrap this match up. Iniesta comes close with an effort from close range, but it is wide of the post.
CHANCE! Messi comes close to a second as he is found by Alba in the penalty area, but he smashes the crossbar from close range. Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional one minute at the end of the half.
GOAL! Barcelona 3-0 Athletic Bilbao (Adriano)
Simply wonderful from the home side as Messi finds Adriano in the penalty area and the defender smashes his effort into the top corner. That is football of the highest order.
Barcelona 3-0 Athletic Bilbao
So there we have it. Barcelona enter the break with a three-goal lead against Athletic Bilbao. The away side started the match in confident fashion, but have been blown away since then.
Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half of football. Barcelona have dominated the possession with 55% and have managed nine attempts to none. Bilbao have simply not been able to get anywhere near Valdes's goal in that opening 45 minutes.
Just a reminder that we have action from Madrid following the completion of this match with Real hosting Atletico. As it stands Barcelona are an incredible 14 points ahead of last season's champions Madrid. Defeat for Jose Mourinho's side this evening would end the race.
Looking ahead to the second period. Is there any possible way that Bilbao can take something from the match? They would need an early goal and a collapse by the Barcelona defence. It remains to be seen whether they will shut up shop and try and restrict the damage.
Here we go then. Barcelona kick us off in the second period. Change for the away side at the interval as Fernando Llorente replaces Aduriz. The former is expected to complete a move to Juventus in the January transfer window.
Half-chance for the home side at the start of the second period as Fabregas dances into the penalty area, but the Spaniard cannot find a finish from a tight angle. It appears that Bilbao will try and restrict the damage. At least in the next 10 minutes or so.
Decent spell of possession from Bilbao at the start of the second period. But they are wary of committing too many players forward in each attack. There is a danger that the second 45 minutes could turn into a slight non-event. Attack versus defence.
Extremely low tempo to the match at the moment with both sides exchanging possession of the ball in the midfield area. Bilbao are having decent touches in midfield, but their final pass continues to elude them.
CHANCE! Glorious opportunity for the home side to extend their lead as Busquets finds Messi outside the penalty area, but his shot is pushed wide of the post by Iraizoz. Meanwhile, the resulting corner is headed clear by Ekiza.
Again it is football of the highest order from the home side as Iniesta finds Messi in the penalty area, but the Argentine just could not release a strike and the danger was cleared. Alba and Adriano are both playing as wingers.
GOAL! Barcelona 4-0 Athletic Bilbao (Fabregas)
Barcelona have just raised the tempo in the past few moments and they have their fourth as Iniesta finds Fabregas and the former Arsenal midfielder blasts his effort home.
Barcelona can just raise the tempo at any moment. The opening stages of the second half was a slight non-event. They realised that and have just upped their game. It is incredible. How on earth can they be stopped this season?
Half-chance for Bilbao as Llorente strikes an effort from outside the penalty area, but it moved high of the crossbar. That is the away side's first attempt on goal in over an hour at the Nou Camp. Finally Valdes has something to do as he takes the goal kick.
The Barcelona faithful are making their voices known at the moment and it is feeding onto the players. You just get the feeling that the home side could have as many goals here as they want. But they will want to conserve energy.
Much better from the away side at the moment as Herrera picks up possession outside the box before striking towards the bottom corner, but it just misses the target with Valdes beaten. Meanwhile, change for the away side as Susaeta is replaced by Toquero.
GOAL! Barcelona 4-1 Athletic Bilbao (Gomez)
Bilbao open their tally for the evening as Gomez collects a pass from Herrera before finishing under Valdes. Really bright play from the away side and their play has been better in the past five minutes or so.
It will not change the end result, but at least the Bilbao supporters have something to clear. Barcelona attempt to force another down the other end, but Xavi's corner is headed clear by Llorente.
Half-chance for Barcelona once more as Messi finds Fabregas in the penalty area, but the Spaniard attempts a delicate flick that was never really on. But there is so much space for the home side at the moment and there will surely be more opportunities.
GOAL! Barcelona 5-1 Athletic Bilbao (Messi)
Barcelona have their fifth and Messi has his second as he thumps an effort into the top corner with his right foot. It is just relentless from the home side.
Goal number 28 of the season for Messi and it is the beginning of December. How can you even come close to commenting on that? It is another level. And there is still around 20 minutes remaining. Bar a couple of decisions Messi is one shy of the record for most goals in a calendar year.
Two changes for the home side as Adriano and Iniesta are replaced by Martin Montoya and Thiago. Meanwhile, San Jose replaces Ramalho for Bilbao. Time for both managers to give their players some needed minutes.
Another change for the home side as Busquets is replaced by Alex Song. Little under 15 minutes remaining and you just get the feeling that there are more goals in this match. Will Messi grab his third and move onto 85 goals for the calendar year?
Possession football from Barcelona at the moment as they pass and probe in the Bilbao half. Not a great deal to report in terms of attacking chances. But that would be spoiling us with six goals already registered.
It's wonderful from Barcelona once more as Messi links with Fabregas in the attacking third, but the danger is cleared at the vital moment. One player who has struggled for the home side this evening is Pedro. It just isn't really going his way this season as his goal drought continues.
I could be wrong but I do not think Bilbao have touched the ball in the last five or so minutes. It is possession football from the home side as they play out the remaining five or so minutes of the match.
Half-chance for the home side to add their sixth of the evening, but Xavi's effort is over the crossbar from outside the penalty area. Meanwhile, Fabregas is denied by the Bilbao goalkeeper moments later.
Not a great deal happening at the moment as both sides wait for the final whistle. Llorente has a strike from distance, but his effort is collected by Valdes and play is resumed. Barcelona's incredible start to the season will continue.
Half-chance in the final moments as Pique drives into the penalty area, but he attempts to find Messi when he perhaps should have gone for goal. Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional two minutes of football.
Herrera picks up a booking in the latter stages of the match for a foul on Messi. Little under 60 seconds of football to play and Barcelona have possession of the ball.
Barcelona 5-1 Athletic Bilbao
So there we have it. Barcelona record a thumping win to move clear at the top of La Liga. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and stay with us for the action from Madrid.
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
