FC Barcelona hammered Athletic Bilbao 4-0 at the Camp Nou to move back within three points of LaLiga leaders Real Madrid.
LaLiga
Result: FC Barcelona 4-0 Athletic Bilbao
Date: 23 October 2022
Venue: Camp Nou
Barca manager Xavi made four changes to the side that thrashed Villarreal, as Eric Garcia, Alejandro Balde, Sergio Busquets and Ousmane Dembele were recalled.
Blaugrana took the game to Bilbao in the opening exchanges and after early threats, Dembele eventually gave them the lead on 12 minutes with a downward header in the box after a cross by Robert Lewandowski.
The hosts increased their attacking intensity and Sergi Roberto doubled their lead six minutes later with a strike across that took a deflection and wrong-footed goalkeeper Unai Simon, after a through ball by Dembele.
It became a one-way traffic for Barca as Lewandowsk added a third goal on 22 minutes with a looping strike into the roof of the net after he cushioned Dembele's cross to get away from his marker in the box.
The Catalan giants were forced to make a change with 11 minutes remaining of the first stanza after Gavi limped off the park and he was replaced by Franck Kessie.
Athletic had some breathing space towards the end of the first stanza, as the intensity from Barca slowed down and they had their moments going forward as Alex Berenguer had their first shot on target on the stroke of half-time with a low curling shot that was well dealt with by shot-stopper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
Barca had a bright in the second stanza as Pedri came close to extending the advantage ten minutes from the interval with a low smashing strike that the came off the bottom post after they won possession high up the pitch.
Blaugrana continued to create chances and Xavi eventually brought in fresh legs shortly after the hour-mark, as Ferran Torres and Anssumane Fati replaced both Pedri, who got injured and Lewandowski.
The changes had the desired effect for Barca as Torres eventually got the fourth goal 16 minutes before time after latched onto a through ball by Dembele in the box and fired a strike past Simon.
Blaugrana were forced to end the game with ten men in the last five minutes after Roberto got injured and Xavi had already used all the substitutions.
Bilbao gained some momentum after that in the dying minutes as Garcia had to make a clearance off the line in the last minute to deny Oihan Sancet a consolation goal, as the hosts held on for the clean sheet to go along with three points.
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