Neymar scored twice late on to earn Barcelona a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou in La Liga this afternoon.
Barcelona came close to opening the scoring inside the first 10 minutes when Pedro tried to convert from a Martin Montoya cross, but Gorka Iraizoz was on hand to make the save for the visitors.
Bilbao looked lively when they had the ball, with Artiz Arduriz looking to put the Barcelona back four under pressure while running at their goal, but it was cleared before he could get his shot away.
Lionel Messi tried to set up Munir El-Haddadi for the opening goal, but the teenager curled his effort just high of the crossbar.
Munir thought that he had broken the deadlock at the start of the second half after turning a low cross from Messi into the back of the net, but the assistant referee ruled him offside.
Jordi Alba fired a powerful effort towards the bottom corner as the hosts continued to press for a goal, but Iraizoz got down to make the stop.
The defender was involved again later in the half as he tried to pick out Messi with a cross from the left, but Aymeric Laporte beat the Argentine to the ball to clear the danger for Bilbao.
Neymar came off the bench inside the final half hour, crossing the ball towards Messi, but the striker sliced his finish high from close range.
The Brazilian managed to open the scoring himself with just over 10 minutes remaining, collecting a through ball from Messi before picking out the bottom corner.
Just five minutes later, he added his second following another assist from Messi, putting the win beyond doubt.
Sian Cowper
