Lionel Messi and Paulinho hit the target as Barcelona crept past Athletic Bilbao to maintain their four-point lead in LaLiga.
While Lionel Messi failed to score on his 600th game for Barcelona, Luis Suarez endured another poor performance.
Fortunately, Paco Alcacer was on form and led the team to a 2-1 win over Sevilla.
Here’s our player ratings…
Ter Stegen 6: Hardly had a save to make and had no chance with the goal. Excellent distribution and good with crosses.
Semedo 6: Solid without being spectacular, rather like his season so far. Showed attacking intent in the first half but rarely threatened Sevilla’s penalty area.
Pique 8: Outstanding at the back, looking like he was in cruise control as he commanded the edge of his box. Also rattled the crossbar with a powerful 20-yard strike after striding forward from the back.
Umtiti 7: Made one serious slip which nearly led to a goal as he was dispossessed by Muriel in the first half, but was otherwise his usual accomplished self and made an immense tackle on Sarabia after getting caught slightly out of position.
Alba 7: A very solid game. Good going forward, giving his team nearly all their attacking width down the left, and diligent in defence.
Alcacer 8: The two-goal match-winning hero will have boosted his confidence no end with this performance, although it must be said there were plenty of loose touches. Also worked exceptionally hard in defence.
Rakitic 7: A good game against his former club. Helped Busquets control the midfield, fizzed a shot just wide in the first half, delivered a perfect assist for the crucial second goal and had a decent penalty appeal turned down.
Busquets 7: Missed an early close-range chance created by Messi but was otherwise impeccable, using the ball superbly and showing great positional intelligence to knit the team together.
Iniesta 7: Majestic in the first half but tired quickly in the second and was substituted when Sevilla levelled. Delivered a great ball to create a chance for Suarez and crashed a fierce shot just wide.
Messi 7: Had two shots in the first three minutes and continued in a similar vein, leading his team’s attacks throughout the game on his 600th club appearance. One dribble and pass to Suarez in the second half was astonishing and deserved to end with a goal.
Suarez 3: A fluffed chip after five minutes summed up his performance. Worked hard but is woefully out of touch, desperately lacking in confidence, and it’s not too harsh to say that nearly everything he did went wrong.
SUBS
Paulinho 5: Replaced Iniesta for the final half hour and was off the pace, contributing little in attack and occasionally looking clumsy in defence.
Deulofeu 6: Replaced Alcacer for the final stages and did well enough, looking sharp and purposeful down the left flank.
Mascherano: Came on for the last two minutes to shore up the defence.
Soria 6: Made one very good low stop from Messi but, despite Barca’s general dominance, had few other saves to make.
Corchia 5: Little attacking impact down his team’s right wing and struggled against Deulofeu late on.
Kjaer 6: Got the better of Suarez with several well-timed tackles and interceptions, but was beaten at the near post by Alcacer for the second goal. Substituted with 15 minutes to play.
Lenglet 6: Good in the air and made some important clearances, but looked susceptible when attacked by runners along the ground.
Escudero 5: Terrible error for the opening goal as he miscontrolled a harmless long ball straight into Alcacer’s path. Otherwise solid.
Navas 4: A poor game from the veteran. Struggled to get involved down Sevilla’s right flank, coming out very much second best in his personal duel with Alba.
Pizarro 8: Scored a brilliant header from a corner and generally did a very tidy job sitting in front of his team’s back four, breaking up many Barca attacks with composed interventions, including a couple on Messi. Used possession simply but well.
NZonzi 5: Tried to use his power to burst forward from midfield, but rarely made an impression on the game and was largely bypassed by Rakitic and Busquets.
Sarabia 5: A quiet game on the left of midfield and was replaced by Nolito with 30 minutes to play.
Banega 6: Playing further forward than usual as a support striker to Muriel, he showed his undoubted class on some occasions but flitted in and out of the action.
Muriel 6: Shot wide after a dangerous run in the first half and fizzed another effort over the top early in the second. Showed some good touches but was replaced near the end.
SUBS
Nolito 5: Added little to his team’s attacking play.
Geis 6: Did a decent job in defence for the final stages.
Ben Yedder: Barely had a touch after appearing for the last few minutes.
