Athletic Bilbao 0 Barcelona 1: Ivan Rakitic goal ensures Barca boss Luis Enrique celebrates in style
The Catalan coach took charge for his 100th win and watched his side hold on for a narrow away win
LUIS ENRIQUE celebrated 100 wins as Barcelona boss with a narrow win over Athletic Bilbao.
Celebrated sharpshooters Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi could not mark the milestone with a goal. But the Former Liverpool man did set up Ivan Rakitic’s match-winning header in the first half.
It took just 21 minutes for the Catalan pass-masters to break the deadlock. Luis Suarez, not to be confused with team-mate and surname sharer Denis, broke down the left and chipped in the perfect cross.
Rakitic rose highest in the Bilbao box and crashed home the header with the assist making Suarez a very happy man.
Seconds before the break Arda Turan missed a lovely chance to give his side a two-goal cushion before the break.
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Messi ripped the Bilbao midfield and defence apart with a rapid run through the middle of the pitch before laying out to the left flank where Turan had been enjoying some success.
But the midfielder sliced his chance with his left boot leaving Luis Suarez fuming with the wasted chance.
On 57 mins Luis Suarez should have scored, Rakitic cross was high and deep and reached the Uruguayan but he put too much power into his lashed shot, when he should have placed it, so it fired wide.
Nine minutes later, Bilbao’s busy striker Inaki Williams had a snap chance with the ball stuck under his feet but he got his shot off but it was too close to Ter Stegen who grabbed it from the air.
On 70 minutes Luis Suarez and Messi linked up superbly with a goal looking destined but the blond bombshell blasted his effort over the bar in a comforting reminder to Sunday League players that the Nou Camp legend is also only human.
With five minutes left, the Basque side had their final chance to equalise with a free-kick from 25-yards.
It looked primed for a left-footed taker but Benyat swung his right boot at the ball and his effort was close to levelling the tie but skimmed past the post.
Luis Suarez should have scored in the final second when Messi gave him an open goal but he bottled the chance which was cleared off the line.
Enrique reached the landmark in his career even faster than Manchester City boss and friend Pep Guardiola.