Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona is challenged by Inigo Martinez of Athletic Club during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club at Camp Nou on January 31, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain.
Lionel Messi showed his worth yet again, scoring on a beautiful free kick to lead Barcelona to a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish league on Sunday.
The 650th goal in his Barcelona career came amid the noise prompted by Spanish newspaper El Mundo's report that his contract is worth 555 million euros ($673 million) over four seasons. The Catalan club, mired in debt and political turmoil, had to quickly deny their involvement in the leak.
Antoine Griezmann also scored for Barcelona, who won their fifth in a row in the league and moved into second place for the first time this season. They have the same 40 points as Real Madrid but are ahead on goal difference. Atlético earlier opened a 10-point lead after winning 4-2 at Cádiz with a pair of goals by Luis Suárez.
Messi, who had his request to leave Barcelona denied by the club last season, seemed unaffected by the leak Sunday of his contract details. He played well from the start and was decisive again at the Camp Nou Stadium. The Argentine great opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a free kick that curled over the wall and found the top corner for his 12th league goal.
"Messi has done a lot for this club and today he scored a great free kick goal," Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman said. "We have to respect him. It seems there is bad intention and a desire to hurt him. Without Messi you can't aspire too much."
HIGHLIGHTS | Leo Messi and @AntoGriezmann fire @FCBarcelona to their 5th consecutive win in #LaLigaSantander! 💙🚀❤️#BarçaAthletic pic.twitter.com/721aMyatgp
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) January 31, 2021
Athletic equalised with an own-goal by Jordi Alba as the defender tried to clear a cross by Raúl García in the 49th, and Griezmann put Barcelona ahead again, completing a cross by Óscar Mingueza in the 75th.
It was the third meeting between Barcelona and Athletic this month, with the Catalan club winning a postponed league game and losing the Spanish Super Cup final.
Athletic were trying to win their sixth consecutive match in all competitions. The loss was only their second since coach Marcelino García Toral was signed in the beginning of the year — the first also was against Barcelona.
It was Barcelona's first home match in 2021. They had played eight consecutive games away from the Camp Nou, including in the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
RED-HOT SUAREZ
Suarez continued his stellar form with Atletico, scoring twice in the win over Cádiz to help Diego Simeone's team open a huge lead at the top.
Suarez scored a goal in each half to reach 14 league goals this season, marking his best-ever league start in Spain and becoming the league's leading scorer. The Uruguay striker, who was let go by Barcelona at the end of last season, has scored nine goals in his last eight matches with Atlético.
"When a striker is on a roll, you have to take advantage of it," Suarez said. "You have to enjoy it because it's hard to stay at this level the whole year."
It was the eighth league win in a row for Atletico, who reach the halfway mark of the season with the 10-point gap to Barcelona and Real Madrid despite having a game in hand.
"Every match is an important step toward reaching our goal," Simeone said. "To continue like this we have to keep focused on match after match."
Simeone's team has 50 points from 19 matches, remaining on pace for a 100-point season for the first time.
"These are important numbers that put us at the top," Suarez said. "We have to stay on this path."
Suarez opened the scoring with a well-placed curling free kick in the 28th and added his second from the penalty spot in the 50th.
Saul Niguez netted before halftime and Koke Resurrección got on the board near the end of the match to complete the scoring for Atletico, who are seeking their first league title since 2014.
Cádiz, winless in their last three league matches and sitting 13th in the standings, got goals from Álvaro Negredo in the 35th and 71st minutes.
OTHER RESULTS
Celta Vigo and Granada failed to move closer to the top of the standings after a scoreless draw in Granada. Celta, winless in their past six games in all competitions, stayed in 10th place. Granada are seventh.
Celta were held despite the return of striker Iago Aspas, who had been sidelined for nearly a month because of a muscle injury.
Earlier on Sunday, 12th-place Getafe were held to a 0-0 draw against Alavés, who had lost four in a row in all competitions and are just inside in the relegation zone.
