Athletic Bilbao 0-1 Barcelona: Ivan Rakitic's header seals win

Ivan Rakitic's first-half header earned Barcelona a narrow 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in La Liga on Sunday night.

The Croatian midfielder timed his run to perfection to head home Arda Turan's cross after 21 minutes at San Mames, earning Luis Enrique his 100th win as Barca boss.

Luis Suarez squandered two excellent opportunities to make the game safe for the visitors, but they held on to move level with Real Madrid and Las Palmas at the top of the table.

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Turan had the ball in the net after just six minutes for Barca, but Luis Suarez was correctly adjudged offside in the build-up.

The hosts started the better side, though, and should have gone ahead when Benat capitalised on a mistake by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but the Barca 'keeper made up for his error, standing tall to save well from point-blank range.

And Barca's first slick move of the half resulted in Enrique's side taking the lead. Luis Suarez turned and fed Turan, who picked out the run of Rakitic to head past Athletic goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz.

Denis Suarez and Turan each had opportunities to extend Barca's lead before the break, with the Turkey international wasting their best chance when he hit the side netting with just Iraizoz to beat.

The visitors continued to carve out chances in the second half, with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both guilty of missing the target when well placed to test the Athletic 'keeper.

Ter Stegen, returning from a knee ligament injury to start in goal following the departure of Claudio Bravo, was largely a bystander, although Raul Garcia and Benat did go close for Athletic, the latter rippling the side netting with a free-kick.

Luis Suarez teed up Messi with 20 minutes to play but the Barca star uncharacteristically blazed over, while the Uruguayan did likewise after surging through on goal.

Athletic substitute Iker Muniain had a penalty appeal turned down in the last minute of normal time, before Luis Suarez wasted another fine chance to grab his fourth goal of the season with the final kick of the game.

Messi squared for the former Liverpool striker to tap in from close range, but Athletic defender Eneko Boveda superbly blocked on the line.