LA LIGA: BARCELONA CELEBRATE CAMP NOU RETURN WITH 4-0 WIN OVER BILBAO

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By: Sefiu Ajape

Barcelona cruised to a 4–0 victory over Athletic Club, extending their unbeaten run in LaLiga head-to-head meetings to 12 and condemning Los Leones to a fifth straight away match without a win this season.

Returning to Camp Nou brought an immediate spark for the Catalans, who set the tempo from kickoff with intensity Athletic struggled to match.

Within four minutes, Robert Lewandowski fired in the opener, and nearly ten minutes passed before the visitors were able to break into Barcelona’s half. With both sides pressing high, the contest was largely fought in a crowded central zone.

Ferran Torres briefly thought he had doubled the lead, but his neat finish was ruled out for offside.

At the other end, Nico Williams remained Athletic’s brightest outlet, helping fashion two big chances for Unai Gomez before the interval.

However, Gomez failed to convert both opportunities — first shooting straight at Joan Garcia, then ballooning another effort over the bar.

Barcelona punished those misses in first-half stoppage time when Torres raced clear and squeezed a low shot beneath Unai Simon to make it 2–0.

Just three minutes into the second half, Fermín López exchanged passes with Eric García before rifling home the third.

Athletic’s afternoon worsened when Oihan Sancet was sent off following a VAR review of his reckless challenge on López. Ernesto Valverde responded with a triple substitution, but it had little effect as Barcelona remained firmly in control.

Athletic carved out half-chances through Dani Vivian and Dani Olmo, but their efforts fell short. Yuri Berchiche’s wayward strike in the closing stages typified the visitors’ frustrating day.

Barcelona sealed the win in stoppage time when Lamine Yamal delivered a brilliant assist for Ferran Torres to complete the rout.

The result maintains Barcelona’s remarkable home dominance over Athletic in LaLiga — they have not lost to the Basque side at home since November 2001 (W21, D3).

It also marks their sixth home win of the season, achieved across three venues: Camp Nou, Estadi Johan Cruyff, and Estadi Lluís Companys.