Barcelona victory in Bilbao

Barca grew in confidence after the break and stand-in captain Lionel Messi spurned two chances while Suarez also failed to capitalise on a couple of clear opportunities and had a shot cleared off the line in injury time.
Luis Enrique’s men almost lived to regret their profligacy as Bilbao’s Raul Garcia fired narrowly wide and Iker Muniain had a late penalty appeal turned down.
“I’m happy with the result against an opponent of such magnitude,” Luis Enrique told a news conference.
“We could have wrapped the game up earlier but it was a good performance and the three points are well earned.”
Luis Enrique had warned that the visit to San Mames was always one of the hardest away trips for Barca and although they looked comfortable at the start, they soon began to struggle with Bilbao’s intense pressing and aggression.
Ter Stegen gave the visitors a fright when he played the ball straight to Benat Etxebarria but the keeper got his body in the way of the midfielder’s shot and later made saves from Aritz Aduriz and Benat again.