First Division - Day 2

Athletic Bilbao 0 - Barcelona 1

Athletic: Iraizoz; De Marcos, Boveda, Laporte, Balenziaga; Iturraspe (Mikel Vesga 62’), Beñat, Williams, Eraso (Raúl García 62‘), Susaeta (Muniain 76‘); Aduriz. 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Umtiti (Mascherano 71’), Jordi Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Denis Suárez (André Gomes 71’); Messi, Luis Suárez, Arda Turan (Rafinha 81'). 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 21. Rakitic. Ran in to steer header wide of Iraizoz from Arda Turan centre.

Yellow cards: Umtiti 10’, Busquets 37’, Luis Suárez 37’, Susaeta 45’, Iturraspe 56’, Sergi Roberto 59’, Eraso 62’, Beñat 83’, Balenziaga 89’.

A single goal by Rakitic midway through the first half gave Barcelona a narrow 0-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday evening. With Claudio Bravo signing for Manchester City, Ter Stegen took over in goal, and he was to set a new record for the number of passes by a goalkeeper. However one of those early on went very wrong, and only a brave stop by the keeper prevented Beñat from putting the locals in front. With the rain starting to fall though it was the visitors who took the lead, Arda Turan crossing in for Rakitic to head past Iraizoz. Soon afterwards Umtiti swepty a shot over the top, and with the first half coming to a close Turan got free on goal only to shoot wide of the mark. Ter Stegen had to save from Aduríz before half time though, and after the interval Laporte headed a corner over the top, and Raúl García and Beñat shot just past the post. In the end though the Catalans could have won by a bigger margin, Messi and Luis Suárez going close, and Bóveda clearing a last minute effort off the line from Suárez with the keeper well beaten.