2 October 2006, by Sean Gillen

Barcelona cruise to Bilbao win

Athletic Bilbao 1-3 Barcelona

Barcelona began life without Samuel Eto’o by coming from behind to beat 10-man Athletic Bilbao at the San Mames and return to the top of La Liga. The Cameroonian striker has been ruled out for up to five months, but the champions showed no signs of weakness as his replacement, Eidur Gudjohnsen, scored to help give the visitors the points.

Barca coach Frank Rijkaard made seven changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Werder Bremen in midweek, with Portuguese midfielder Deco’s standing in the team highlighted by his joining goalkeeper Victor Valdes, captain Carles Puyol and Ronaldinho in keeping his place in the side.

Bilbao stunned the champions, though, with an outstanding 12th minute strike to take the lead. Fernando Llorente picked the ball up on the left wing and delivered a cross to the edge of the area, where Yeste smashed a wonderful volley past Valdes.

The controversial moment in the game arrived on the 20-minute mark, when Bilbao defender Javier Casas was issued a straight red card. A rapid counter attack involving Deco and Messi saw Gudjohnsen latch onto a throughball, only for Casas to take the Icelandic forward down and, although not the last man and not appearing to prevent an obvious goalscoring opportunity, the defender was given his marching orders.

After going down to ten men, Bilbao were forced to remove an attacking player, Llorente, to bring on a replacement full-back, and adopted a highly defensive approach as Barca began to dominate possession. Despite seeing much of the ball, an off-target effort from Ronaldinho was as close as the visitors came before getting a rather fortuitous equaliser just before the break when Bilbao defender Ustartitz put through his own net when trying to beat Puyol to a cross.

Almost immediately after the break, Barca could have taken the lead when Ludovic Giuly cushioned the ball down to Rafael Marquez, and the Mexican defender smashed an effort off the woodwork.

A second Barca goal seemed inevitable, and it duly arrived just after the hour when Xavi’s perfectly weighted throughball found Gudjohnsen, who finished superbly inside the box.

Deco was then replaced by Andres Iniesta before a third goal sealed the win for the away side in the 77th minute as Javier Saviola finished a superb move involving Xavi and Iniesta. Messi then missed when put through on goal as Barca cruised to the win and went back to the top of La Liga.

After the forthcoming international break, Barcelona face a crucial three-game spell in mid-October. The Catalans next face Sevilla at the Nou Camp, before meeting Chelsea in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge and then travelling to play arch-rivals Real Madrid in the season’s first Grande Classico.

Athletic Bilbao:
Lafuente, Iraola, Ustartitz, Sarriegi, Casas, Orbaiz, Martinez, Garmendia (Gabilondo, 73), Yeste, Etxeberria (Urzaiz, 65), Llorente (Exposito, 22)
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: Casas (22)

Barcelona:
Valdes, Zambrotta, van Bronkhorst, Puyol, Marquez, Edmilson (Giuly, 31), Xavi, Deco (Iniesta, 62), Messi, Ronaldinho, Gudjohnsen (Saviola, 72)
Yellow Cards: Messi (69)

Goals:
[1-0] Yeste, 12
[1-1] Ustartitz, 45 (o.g.)
[1-2] Gudjohnsen, 61
[1-3] Saviola, 77