After being drawn against each other in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao locked horns in La Liga on Sunday evening.
Barca came into the match unbeaten in 21 games and they made it 22 with a thumping 6-0 win, which was aided by an early red card to Bilbao keeper Gorka Iraizoz.
Read all about it with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
6.31pmGooooood evening everyone! We've got a tasty La Liga contest coming up in an hour's time as Barcelona welcome Athletic Bilbao to the Camp Nou. Team news is just coming in, so let's get to that first...
6.33pmBARCA XI: Bravo, Vidal, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Iniesta, Rakitic; Messi, Suarez, Neymar
6.36pmLuis Enrique makes three changes to the team that started Barca's last league game - a 4-0 win over Granada last Saturday. In central defence Javier Mascherano comes in for Thomas Vermaelen, while in midfield it's Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta in, Sergi Roberto and Arda Turan out.
6.38pmBILBAO XI: Iraizoz, Vault, Laporte, Eraso, San Jose, Benat, De Marcos, Williams, X. Etxeita, Muniain, Balenziaga
6.41pmAs for the visitors, Ernesto Valverde has been forced into some changes because of injury. Aritz Aduriz is suspended and Raul Garcia is injured, so Inaki Williams will be the focal point of the attack.
6.44pmSUBS: And here are the two benches...
Barca: Ter Stegen, Alves, Arda Turan, Bartra, Munir, Sergi Roberto, Vermaelen
Bilbao: Iturraspe, Iago Herrerin, Susaeta, Mikel Rico, Gurpegi, Sabin Merino, I. Lekue
Barca: Ter Stegen, Alves, Arda Turan, Bartra, Munir, Sergi Roberto, Vermaelen
Bilbao: Iturraspe, Iago Herrerin, Susaeta, Mikel Rico, Gurpegi, Sabin Merino, I. Lekue
6.46pmSo the only real surprise is perhaps that Aleix Vidal has got the nod over Dani Alves at right-back, but the summer signing has impressed since he finally made his debut earlier this month. Both he and Arda Turan were unable to play in the first half of the season because of a transfer ban.
6.49pmTime to look at the table now. Click here to see how it looks right now, with Barca third and five points behind Atletico Madrid. Atleti are currently 2-0 up at Las Palmas and extending their lead at the summit, although they have played two more games than Barca because of the latter's participation in the Club World Cup last month. Madrid are second, a point above Barca, after they put five past Sporting Gijon earlier today.
6.52pmAthletic are currently eighth and they will move up to seventh if they pick up a surprise win today. They might not stay there, though, as Eibar play at home tomorrow.
6.55pmTaking a look at the two teams' form, Barca come into this unbeaten in 21 games in all competitions since they lost at Sevilla on October 3. In La Liga, they are unbeaten in 11, but their recent form hasn't been all that sparkling.
6.57pmAfter six wins in a row, Enrique's men have won just two of their last five, drawing the other three. They are extremely strong at home, though, winning nine and drawing one of their 10 La Liga contests at the Camp Nou this term.
6.59pmBilbao have only lost one of their last seven games, but they are yet to win in the league since the turn of the year, going down 2-0 at Sevilla last weekend.
7.01pmBoth teams were in Copa del Rey action in midweek and they made it through to the next round before drawing each other in the quarter-finals!
7.04pmInterestingly, these two met in last year's Copa final and it was Barca who 3-1, with Lionel Messi scoring one of the great goals with this incredible solo effort.
7.06pmBilbao got some revenge in the Spanish Super Cup with a 4-1 aggregate victory at the start of the season, but Barca then won later in August thanks to Luis Suarez's goal in Bilbao.
7.08pmH2H: Barca have won their last 11 league games against Athletic at the Camp Nou, their longest winning streak in history.
7.11pmAntoine Griezmann was at the double as Atletico cruised past Las Palmas this evening. Read all about that game with our on-the-whistle match report.
7.14pmThis is Messi's first league game since he won an unprecendented fifth Ballon d'Or earlier this week. The trophy is at the Camp Nou tonight!
The Ballon d'Or is at home https://t.co/Pw5wKv6PKw #BallondOr #FCBlive
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 17, 2016
7.16pmSome people thought that Neymar might crash the party, but in the end Messi collected over 40% of the vote and Cristiano Ronaldo came second.
7.19pmWith Messi, Neymar and Suarez, Barca have undoubtedly the best frontline in world football, but they have also impressed at the back of late, keeping seven clean sheets in their last nine league games.
7.21pmEnrique's side have also not conceded a single goal in the first half of their last nine league game, with the last coming in October against Eibar.
7.25pm
Messi has only scored more goals v 4 other teams than Ath. Bilbao in career At. Madrid 24 Sevilla 24 R. Madrid 21 Osasuna 19 Ath.Bilbao 18
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) January 17, 2016
7.27pmEnough about Messi and co! Who should we look out for in the away side? Inaki Williams is the danger-man and a striker in form having netted in four of his last six games. With Aduriz suspended, there's even more pressure on the 21-year-old's shoulders.
7.29pmHere we go then. The two teams have emerged from the tunnel at the Camp Nou and kickoff is moments away.
7.30pmAnd just before kickoff Messi hoists aloft the Ballon d'Or to the delight of those in attendance. What a player he is.
7.31pm
#CampNou 👏👏👏👏👏 #Messi5 👑 #BallondOr ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/DjY7P2Y1xF
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 17, 2016
0 minKICKOFF! Bilbao, in their home colours of red and white stripes, get us underway.
2 minCHANCE! Oh what a chance for Bilbao! Complacency at the back from Barca as Pique's backpass is intercepted by Muniain. Bravo comes out and he finds the supporting Eraso, who turns past one man before blazing over with no goalkeeper there.
4 minPENALTY TO BARCELONA! IRAIZOZ SENT OFF!
4 minOh my word! Moments after missing a great chance at one end, Bilbao make life basically impossible for themselves. Suarez muscled his way into the box and was then taken out by Iraizoz. Referee Antonio Mateu had little choice but to send the keeper off and point to the spot.
6 minBILBAO SUB: Iraizoz's dismissal means that Bilbao have to make a change and it's Muniain sacrificed so that Iago Herrerin can come on and try to save the penalty.
7 minGOAL! BARCELONA 1-0 BILBAO (LIONEL MESSI, PEN.)
7 minThe Ballon d'Or winner tucks home from 12 yards to put the home side in front. Herrerin was an absolute mile off his line but it didn't matter as Messi's penalty was too powerful and too precise.
8 minWhat a long night this could be for Bilbao now. Looking at the incident again, Suarez was climbing all over Etxeita and perhaps the referee could have given a free kick to the home side.
11 minPique makes a real mess of an attempted lob with only Herrerin to beat, but he was offside anyway. How many are Barca going to get here? Six? How must it feel to be a Bilbao player in these kind of circumstances?
13 minNeymar is found surging down the left and he has Suarez in the middle but can't find him as the cross is blocked.
14 minEn fuego 🔥🔥🔥
Lionel Messi has now scored in his last 7 home games in succession in all comps (11 goals) pic.twitter.com/KsED7DV4fU
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) January 17, 2016
15 minSuarez curls a shot harmlessly over the bar after receiving Rakitic's neat flick on the edge of the box.
16 minCHANCE! Well well! An opening for Bilbao as De Marcos beats Alba in a footrace before being denied by Bravo. Corner to the visitors...
17 minRubbish delivery from the right. Not beating the first man from corners and free kicks has to be one of the most annoying regular mistakes pro footballers make.
18 minNeymar has his first opening of the match but he was always off-balance and had his shot easily blocked.
21 minThe whole of the last few minutes has been played in the Bilbao half. Barca are patiently probing, waiting for the door to open.
22 minCHANCES! First Neymar is denied by a vital last-gasp San Jose block before Suarez's attempt from the left of the area is blocked out for a corner. Bilbao hanging on at the moment, but if they concede a second surely it's game over.
23 minSHOT! Neymar floats over a cross for the onrushing Rakitic, who catches his volley sweetly but rifles it over the top. Everyone trying to get in on the act here!
25 minOoooh! Williams's pass for De Marcos is good and the midfielder is through on goal, but the offside flag is up. Replays show that was a contentious call, he looked level.
29 minSHOT! Bilbao cannot afford to make any mistakes like Williams just has here. He cheaply gave it away to Vidal, who surged forward and sent a rasping shot just over the top.
31 minGOAL! BARCA 2-0 BILBAO (NEYMAR)
31 minSurely this is game over, after just half an hour of play. Bilbao are a man down and now two behind as Suarez feeds Neymar on the break and the Brazilian dinks cleverly into the net.
33 minBilbao should have never let themselves get exposed like that. At just 1-0 down they were still in it but now they really have to chase it and damage limitation might be on their minds.
35 minCLOSE! Wow, almost a glorious goal involving all three of the MSN. Neymar brought the ball down with a cheeky bit of control before crossing to the middle where Suarez dummied the ball and Messi hit it just over the top.
37 minHere's the moment Iraizoz brought down Suarez to get a red card. It was always going to go downhill from there for Bilbao.
© AFP
© AFP39 minWith that cheeky finish a few minutes ago, Neymar has now scored 14 goals in 14 appearances at the Camp Nou this season.
41 minSHOT! Messi wins a free kick almost 30 yards out and tries his luck with a curling effort that goes just wide. Bilbao need half time to get a breather!
45 minFabulous run from Rakitic into the box but his cutback can't find a teammate. Both Messi and Neymar had pulled back and decided against charging into the six-yard box.
45+1 minOne minute of added time, even though the penalty incident took at least two to clear up.
45+2 minHALF-TIME: BARCA 2-0 BILBAO
8.20pmJust the two then for Barca, who have completely dominated Bilbao since the visitors were reduced to 10 men early on. Messi and Neymar on the scoresheet. We'll be back for the second half soon.
© AFP
© AFP8.33pmRight then. Time for the second half at the Camp Nou. Click here to see the live table, with Barca up to second and just two points behind Atleti.
46 minBARCA SUB: Half-time change from the hosts, with Turan surprisingly on for Messi. Maybe he picked up a little injury?
46 minKICKOFF! The home side get us back underway.
47 minGOAL! BARCA 3-0 BILBAO (LUIS SUAREZ)
47 minOne for Messi, one for Neymar and now one for Suarez as the Uruguayan strokes home after a lovely exchange of passes with Neymar. Who needs Messi?
49 min
GOALLL!!!! Luis Suárez adds a third to make it 3-0 #FCBLive #FCBAthletic pic.twitter.com/eTHB3tEAo0
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 17, 2016
51 minBOOKING! First yellow card of the match to Mascherano, who upended Williams just as the Athletic striker was trying to get past him to bear down on goal.
53 minMSN - mesmerising, sublime, nonsensical
© Getty Images
© Getty Images56 minWith that goal at the start of the second half, Suarez now has 13 goals in his last 12 La Liga games. It's just a bit of a joke all these stats about the front three. Genuinely unfair.
61 minCHANCE! Unlucky! Bilbao almost get on the scoresheet as Eraso collects at the back post, beats Vidal easily but then dinks the ball over the bar with Bravo rushing out to meet him.
62 minGOAL! BARCA 4-0 BILBAO (IVAN RAKITIC)
62 minGood grief. Neymar gets away from his man down the left before advancing into the box. He draws about four men over to him and surges past them down the outside before cutting back for Rakitic to sidefoot home through the legs of Herrerin.
68 minGOAL! BARCA 5-0 BILBAO (LUIS SUAREZ)
68 minIt's five as Suarez brings down Turan's inch-perfect cross on his chest before poking beyond Herrerin. Too easy!
© Getty Images
© Getty Images71 minNeymar fancies a brace as well, but his curling shot is far too weak and easy for Herrerin to save.
73 minFree kick for Bilbao right at the top of the D. Can they get a consolation?
73 minSHOT! Straight at the wall from Laporte, but De Marcos is there for the rebound and his low drive flies just wide.
76 minScary!
Luis Suárez has 28 goals in 29 games across all competitions for Barcelona this season. It's still only January. pic.twitter.com/s8WKwmol5l
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 17, 2016
79 minCLOSE! Neymar is on free-kick duty with Messi off the field and he curls one onto the roof of the net from 20 yards.
81 minListen to this stat: This is the first time ever that Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo and Messi, Suarez and Neymar have all scored on the same La Liga matchday. An incredible pool of talent in La Liga.
82 minGOAL! BARCA 6-0 BILBAO (LUIS SUAREZ, HAT-TRICK)
82 minHat-trick for Suarez as he powerfully heads home from 10 yards. Fabulous header, he really has got it all.
86 min
Luis Suárez: Has now scored 3 hat-tricks in La Liga since the start of last season, only Ronaldo (9) & Messi (6) have more in that time
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) January 17, 2016
89 minSHOT! Bilbao are still trying to find something. Substitute Iturraspe takes aim from a free kick and tests Bravo with a decent effort.
90+1 minJust the two minutes of added time for Bilbao to endure.
90+3 minFULL-TIME: BARCELONA 6-0 ATHLETIC BILBAO
© Getty Images
© Getty Images9.22pmIt's the biggest league win of the season for Barca as they cruise past Bilbao. The visitors started well and could have easily gone in front after a couple of minutes, but once Iraizoz was sent off in the fourth minute it was always a question of how many. In the end it was six, with Suarez the pick of the bunch with three goals.
9.24pmBarca climb back above Real in the table. They're still two points behind Atleti, but do have a game in-hand on Diego Simeone's side. Bilbao stay seventh.
9.25pmThanks a lot for joining SM tonight for what was, in the end, an extremely one-sided contest. Barca were never in trouble and it's now 22 games unbeaten in all competitions! Good night!
