Wow! That was a frantic and open game! Barcelona will be pleased with their first-half performance, but boy did they have a hard time in the second half! The points are all that matter though and they have re-opened their four-point lead over second-placed Valencia!
This is Amit signing off...take care, lads and lasses!
Barca broke through and it was 3v1 there. Messi threads a pass for Suarez who takes a first-time shot, saved by Leka. But sadly for the custodian, Paulinho was around to knock it in!
88' Rakitic and Semedo combine well as the former puts in a smashing through pass for the latter. His cross is cleared! Barca are finally keeping the ball now.
84' Terrible control from Umtiti as he nearly serves it on a platter for Aduriz. But he's able to recover and win the ball back. Barca sure look nervy at the back! Corner for Bilbao!
80' Suarez makes a good run, is found by Messi, but can't connect. The flag is up, though. Barca are now using a bit of time-wasting tactics. Umtiti is booked for delaying the taking of a freekick!
79' Barca players have been caught dwelling on the ball far too often. Rakitic loses the ball but luckily wins a freekick as it was a tackle from behind.
77' Williams gets the better of the Barca defence again and finds Cordoba. The latter's effort is wide! Barca are hanging on now. Williams has been Bilbao's go-to man so far.
74' Barca finally manage a spell of possession, but Paulinho puts in a bad tackle and Bilbao have a freekick. Paulinho was booked for that challenged, by the way.
69' Alba and Messi nearly combine on the left, but Benat puts a foot in to win the ball. Bilbao then start a counter but nothing comes of it! End to end now!
66' Gomes and Suarez combined well and the latter is through after a smashing dribble past Laporte. But Nunez is there again to block the shot! Nearly, that cushion!
57' Garcia hoofs one for Williams to collect and his pace takes him there. Bad cross, though. Barca win the second ball and Rakitic is fouled by Cordoba.
55' The wide men, Cordoba and Williams are very involved now. Barca need to watch out for those crosses! Williams' cross is nearly met by Aduriz. Ter Stegen did well to collect the ball there.
54' The ball ping-pongs around the Barca box and Garcia takes a shot! Just wide! Barca are giving away the ball too cheaply and Bilbao are very direct.
50' Lekue does well to find Adiriz, but Barca crowd him out and start a counter. They win a throw-in. They need to calm the game a bit and keep possession.
49' Bilbao are back to their pressing game. San Jose is found well by Iturraspe, but Ter Stegen reads it well again and smothers the danger. Good keeping by the German.
48' A fracas in the Bilbao box there! Gomes is found by Messi, he isn't able to get his shot away though. Barca win the second ball and Paulinho's shot is blocked!
And that's it! It's halftime. Wow, those 45 minutes have breezed through, no injury time. Athletic Bilbao have created a few chances, but Messi has again made the difference so far. You don't wanna miss this game.
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