View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Soccer Laduma (@soccer_laduma)

Barca reduce Real's lead with Bilbao thrashing

FC Barcelona proved too strong for Athletic Bilbao after registering a 4-0 victory at the Camp Nou on Sunday evening.

The host welcomed back Eric Garcia, Alejandro Balde, Sergio Busquets and Ousmane Dembele from the 3-0 win over Villarreal on Thursday evening.

Dembele got the opening over 12 minutes in when he attacked a floating ball into the area from Robert Lewandowski and headed beyond the reach of goalkeeper Unai Simon.

It was two for the host six minutes later after Sergi Roberto brought a reverse pass from Dembele in his stride and fired in from an acute angle.

Bilbao manager Ernesto Valverde surprisingly made a change before the midway point where he withdrew Ander Herrera and installed Dani Garcia.

The move didn't stop Barca bombing forward and within a minute, it was three after Lewandowski controlled a smart delivery in the area from the flying Dembele and slotted past Simon.

Barcelona also made a change - albeit a forced one - ten minutes before halftime after Gavi was replaced by Ivorian international Franck Kessie after failing to recover from a collision in the middle of the park.

Valverde's outfit were still under pressure early in the second half and almost conceded a fourth goal after Dani Garcia's clipped clearance from Pedri's effort crashed against the upright.

Barca still found more openings a little thereafter where Pedri played a reverse pass in space for Dembele, who forced Simon to parry the resultant shot from the Frenchman.

The Blaugrana eventually bagged a fourth goal towards the last ten minutes after substitute Ferran Torres latched onto Dembele's through pass and tucked past Simon.

A late substitution from the host saw La Masia graduate Pablo Torre hauled in for his first-team debut before Eric Garcia produced a superb goal-line clearance to deny Oihan Sancet as it finished 4-0 to the home side.

You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments. 

Click here to register!

Related tags

Comments