Barcelona exacted revenge for their Spanish Super Cup
defeat to Athletic Bilbao to get off to a winning start in La
Liga thanks to Luis Suarez’s solitary second-half strike.
Lionel
Messi’s
troubles from the penalty spot continued as he saw a first-
half spot-kick saved by Gorka Iraizoz.
However, his strike partner ensured that miss didn’t prove
costly as Suarez volleyed home early in the second-half to
hand the champions all three points.
Luis Enrique’s men were returning to the ground where they
were thrashed 4-0 in the first leg of the Super Cup just
nine days ago and were without the suspended Gerard
ButlerPique, whilst Neymar wasn’t fit to take part after just
- returning to training following a bout of the mumps.
Athletic were also missing a number of first-team regulars,
though, and struggled to match their high-energy
performances in the two Super Cup matches after also
playing in the Europa League on Thursday.
After a quiet start the game burst into life when referee
Carlos del Cerro Grande controversially pointed to the spot
when Suarez went down under a challenge from Gorka
Elustondo.
However, Messi failed to open the scoring from the resulting
spot-kick as Iraizoz flew to his right to make a brilliant
save.
The Argentine has now missed five penalties for club and
country in the past year and failed to find the net in 14 of
the 63 penalties he has taken for Barca.
Iraizoz produced an even better stop moments later to
prevent Suarez sweeping home Sergi Roberto’s cross to
ensure Athletic went in level at the break.
The Uruguayan wasn’t to be denied just eight minutes into
the second-half, though, as he connected sweetly on his left-
foot with Jordi Alba’s cross.
Roberto was deputising in an unusual position at right-back
after replacing the injured Dani Alves midway through the
first-half, but his impressive showing continued as he
smashed a shot off the bar from a narrow angle as Barca
threatened to double their advantage.
However, the visitors suffered another injury blow when
Sergio Busquets was stretchered off with an ankle problem
and were left hanging on with a makeshift back four.
Ibai Gomez had the Basques’ best chance to equalise 10
minutes from time, but he blasted over when the ball fell
invitingly inside the Barca box.
And Messi nearly sealed the three points with a stunning
individual run past a host of tired Athletic defenders,
reminiscent of his opening goal in the Copa del Rey final
between the sides in May, but his finish lacked the accuracy
needed to beat Iraizoz.
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