Messi shines in Bilbao win

Lionel Messi delivered ANother masterful performance as urban center sailed past Athletic Bilbao 2-0 on Sunday to require an 11-point lead over nearest rivals Atletico Madrid in La Liga.

After putt Chelsea to the weapon within the Champions League time period, Messi scored for the sixth game in a very row against Athletic at the Camp Nou to propel Barca nearer to the domestic title.

"Every day he discovers one thing new, one thing totally different, he is terribly alert to what he must do, what the team wants from him at every moment," Barca coach Erneste Valverde same of Messi, the Spanish league's leading scorer this season with twenty five goals.

"Many times it appears that the coach must teach the players, however what the coach extremely will is learn aboard them as things continue. we have a tendency to hope to stay on learning along."

A dominant begin from Barca yielded the gap goal when simply eight minutes as Messi found Jordi Alba out on the left, his pull back showing neatness side-footed into the way corner by Paco Alcacer, filling sure the suspended Luis Suarez.


The hosts looked a relentless threat too soon and Philippe Coutinho was denied a second once he flustered the woodwork, whereas Ousmane Dembele ought to have done far better with simply Kepa Arrizabalaga to beat. however the Athletic goalkeeper was overcome to stay out a crunching low drive from Messi on the 0.5 hour, the Argentine taking slightly to manage a pass from Dembele before lashing home.

Coutinho, the club's record linguistic communication, smitten the woodwork for a second time as he tried to lob Kepa when latching onto an original lofted pass from Paulinho, World Health Organization then smacked a curling shot of his own against the upright.

Barca extended their undefeated La Liga run to thirty six matches chemical analysis back to last season, drawing to among 2 games of the record set Real Sociedad between 1979 and 1980.

"I would like to (break the record) however why persevere talking regarding it if we are able to lose, win or draw consecutive game," Valverde same. "We're not reaching to tempt fate. consecutive match in metropolis are going to be a awfully tough trip."

Second-placed Atletico effectively given their hopes of overhauling Barca at the highest, as 2 late goals from 20-year-old Turkey striker Enes Unal handed  Villarreal a 2-1 ending over Diego Simeone's facet.

Antoine Griezmann regenerate a first-half penalty when he was obstructed by Jaume Costa, before Koke hit the post. however Unal headed in AN 82nd-minute equaliser for the hosts and turned home a stoppage-time winner as Villarreal climbed up to fifth.

Real Madrid will reclaim third place from Valencia reception to Girona anon Sunday.

Earlier, Sevilla crashed to a 2-1 league defeat to Leganes simply days when pull off the surprise elimination of Manchester United within the Champions League.

The loss suggests that Sevilla area unit progressively unlikely to qualify for the Champions League through La Liga this season.