Lionel Messi scored for the sixth consecutive game as Barcelona tightened their grip in the title race with a 2-0 LaLiga win over Athletic Bilbao.
Messi took his tally for the season to 38 with a fine finish from the edge of the penalty area.
Paco Alcacer had already given the hosts the lead at the Nou Camp, and the leaders went on to canter to a routine victory against a Bilbao side grateful they were not more soundly beaten.
Here, we take a look at three things learned from Barcelona’s win.
Alcacer back in the goals
Luis Suarez’s suspension gave back-up striker Paco Alcacer the chance to impress, and he took it by bagging the opener inside the first ten minutes. It was Alcacer’s first goal since December and only his third in the league all season, and the boost of confidence provided by hitting the back of the net with a tidy finish from 15 yards will certainly help in case he is needed again.
In truth, Alcacer was rarely involved in the team’s build-up play but he provided a decent presence inside the penalty box, helping to create space for his teammates. And although the ball rarely ended up at Alcacer’s feet, that really wasn’t necessary as Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele provided attacking menace down the flanks, supported by the overlapping runs of Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto, while Ivan Rakitic controlled the centre of the pitch and Paulinho regularly broke forward from midfield to attack the edge of the penalty area.
Add to that Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti easily dealing with Athletic’s rare attacks, and it was a pretty complete team performance from Barca in the opening period.
Are we missing anyone…?
Messi’s latest masterclass
Oh yes…there was also Lionel Messi, who is somehow contriving to get even better with age, if that can even be possible.
In the first half Messi often appeared to be toying with Athletic – treating the opposition as a personal plaything, to be moved into whatever position he preferred in order to weave his magic. It certainly looked that way, because at times there was nothing they could do to stop him.
Messi had three shots on target saved inside the opening 12 minutes, and the only surprise was that it took as long as half an hour for him to get on the scoresheet with a brutally struck low shot from the edge of the box, arrowing low inside the right corner.
Like his teammates, Messi was much quieter in the second half as Barca eased down through the gears, safe in the knowledge that the game had already been won. But with his first-half strike Messi has now scored in six consecutive games, and is moving into the decisive phase of the season in tremendous form.
Barca break the press
Athletic occasionally attempted to pin the home team back deep inside their own half by marking man to man when goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen had possession, but the hosts proved themselves to be masters of breaking the press with remarkably calm and precise passing out from the back.
The best example came after 15 minutes with a magnificent end to end move involving several players: Ter Stegen played a short pass to Pique, who found Sergi Roberto. His ball down the line was turned inside by Messi for Gerard Pique, gave it back to Messi. Barca were now breaking forward at pace and Messi slid a pass to Paulinho, who worked it onto Philippe Coutinho. Then Jordi Alba was fed on an overlapping run to the byline, and his cross very nearly found Alcacer for what would have been a sensational team goal.
Another similar move later in the first half nearly resulted in a goal for Messi before his shot was inadvertently blocked by Alcacer, again demonstrating that Barca can be at their most dangerous when they are 90 yards from goal.
