It was beginning to look desparate for Barcelona. Messi had been denied a stonewall penalty when one of his dazzling runs set him free in the area, but the referee refused to point to the spot, even though Amoribietas badly timed tackle halted the Argentines progress. The Barca players went absolutely apoplectic, but the man in black was having none of it.
Barcelona Vs Athletic Bilbao: Lionel Messi The Hero Once More!
Attack after attack from Barcelona, but nothing was coming off. Until Dani Alves found space down the right on 77 minutes, firing over a low cross that Lionel Messi dinked into the net on the run. Clinical strike from Messi and about as invaluable as they come as the lead at the top is extended to five points if it stays like this. It had looked as if Barcelona were going to be frustrated to the end by battling Bilbao, but now the away side have it all to do as they push forward for another equaliser.
Guardiola is already looking to protect this lead, switching David Villa for Seydou Keita. This promises to be an electric final ten minutes.
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