Rakitic scores in critical win for sluggish Barca
Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic scored his first goal of the season to provide his side a 1-0 win in the home to Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, averting a second successive draw which would have further more dented the champions' La Liga title defence.
Barca had slipped off the most notable of the table after Friday's 0-0 pull at Sevilla and devote another sluggish display at a clear Camp Nou, as the star-studded front side three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann failed to sparkle.
They finally found a means through in the 71st minute when Messi slipped the ball into the path of Croatia midfielder Rakitic, who had only been on the pitch for six minutes and kept his nerve to beat Athletic's in-form goalkeeper Unai Simon.
The win took Barca to the most notable of the standings on 68 points although Real Madrid, on 65, will reclaim their lead because of their superior head-to-head record if they beat Real Mallorca in the home on Wednesday.
"It was very tough for all of us to take control of the game, Athletic are a very challenging side and didn't make it possible for us but I'm delighted to rating my first aim of the season," Rakitic said.
"Thirty one league game titles is a very long time to wait and I'm angry it possesses taken such a long time but I'm happy I could help the team."
Athletic have beaten Barca on the league and Copa del Rey this season and produced a disciplined display in addition to crafting a number of clear likelihood of their own.
Striker Inaki Williams should have done better when he got a good clear sight of objective but lost his footing seeing that he shaped to shoot, while defender Yeray Alvarez came close with a powerful header.
Griezmann was thwarted by Simon midway through the next half and the 120-million-euro forward was taken off soon after, seeking glum after another unconvincing screen.
He was replaced by 17-year-outdated Ansu Fati who practically had an instant impact, heading just over the bar.
Barca were suddenly using more freedom and Messi's quick-thinking and Rakitic's cool end finally broke straight down Athletic's defence.
The Catalans will be without midfielder Sergio Busquets for their next meet at Celta Vigo on Saturday after he earned a suspension, leaving them without natural positioning midfielders as Frenkie de Jong is injured.
