Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann scored as Barcelona won 2-1 at home to Athletic Bilbao in
the Spanish Premier League and avenged himself of the defeat by the Basque team in the local Super Cup final.
Messi fired a free-kick into the net in the 20th minute, scoring his 650th goal for Barcelona on the day
the club decided to file a lawsuit against El Mondo newspaper for publishing details of the Argentine
player’s contract.
The homeowner missed several chances before Bilbao equalized four minutes into the break when Jordi Alba
mistakenly placed the ball in his own net.
But Griezmann, who scored twice in a 3-2 loss in the Super Cup final, put Barcelona back on the lead-in
the 74th minute.
This is the fifth consecutive victory in the league for Ronald Koeman’s side, to lead by goal difference over
Real Madrid, with 40 points each and ten points behind Atletico Madrid, who has a game in hand.
