Goals from Paco Alcacer, Lionel Messi and Aleix Vidal saw Barcelona move within a point of Real Madrid at the top of the Primera Liga after a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.
Madrid, who have two games in hand, are scheduled to play on Sunday at Celta Vigo, though the match may be in doubt after sections of the roof at the stadium were blown off in a storm on Friday.
Barca’s worries were limited to team selection and the in-form Luis Suarez, who has scored seven goals in 10 games against the Basques, was kept on the bench as Neymar is suspended for Tuesday’s home Copa del Rey semi-final second leg in which Barca lead Atletico Madrid 2-1.
Neymar shouldered the responsibility and was one of the liveliest players in a first half where Athletic had clear chances to score and yet found themselves two down at the break.
A Raul Garcia shot after two minutes following a cross from Inaki Williams was pushed onto the post by Andre Ter Stegen.
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Williams, who impressed with his desire to run at defenders, headed wide when he should have put his side ahead after 11 minutes.
Williams also had a shot saved by Ter Stegen after 31 minutes, yet by that time Barca were ahead.
The opening goal came in the 17th minute when Neymar cut the ball back to Alcacer, who struck his first league goal since his €30 million (Dh118.8m) close season signing from Valencia.
Messi got the second after 40 minutes, hitting a free kick low from close to the byline left of goalkeeper Iraizoz. The Basque keeper fumbled and stumbled as Messi’s effort went in, before punching the post in anger.
His side were out of the game before the break, while Messi’s scoring record reads 31 goals from 30 games for Barca this season. His 16 league goals have put him joint top of the Pichichi chart with Suarez.
Barca were dominant. Neymar left right-back De Marcos floored before shooting wide four minutes before the break.
As fans in the 83,884 crowd protested against the league’s president Javier Tebas because of a set of perceived injustices against their team, the players they support stretched their unbeaten run to 14 matches.
A heavily bandaged Rafinha was substituted with a cut to his head after 54 minutes and replaced by Ivan Rakitic.
With Tuesday’s game in mind, Messi was brought off after 63 minutes, replaced by Sergi Roberto. He joined Gerard Pique, who turned 30 in the week, who was brought off as a precaution with a thigh injury.
Catalan full-back Aleix Vidal scored Barca’s third on 67 minutes. Vidal, 27, started only one of Barca’s opening 17 league matches amid reports that he didn’t feature in Luis Enrique’s plans, but has played the last four, scoring twice.
As Messi and Suarez sat smiling and laughing on the bench, Vidal and Alcacer shared their happiness on the pitch on a routine, yet morale-boosting afternoon for all at Barcelona.
“It was a very positive day,” Enrique said. “We realise that we need all our players, those who’ve not had many minutes and they did very well.
“In addition, I have given breaks to other players. Until the end, Barcelona have every possibility of winning the title.”
Over to Real Madrid to see if they can open up the gap at the top again on Sunday.
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