FC Barcelona reclaimed fourth spot in LaLiga with a 4-0 thrashing of Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou on Sunday night.
Result: Barcelona 4-0 Athletic Bilbao
Date: 27 February 2022
Venue: Camp Nou
Blaugrana made four changes to the side that beat Valencia the last time out, as Gerard Pique, Dani Alves, Pedri and Adama Traore were all recalled.
The hosts were knocking the ball around well in the opening exchanges but only in front of a compact Bilbao defence, who were happy to sit back and operate on counter-attacks.
Xavi's charges lacked the creativity to open up the visitors' defence but broke the deadlock eight minutes before the halftime break from a set-piece after Pique's header came off the crossbar and Aubameyang fired home the rebound.
Neither side were able to take game by the scruff of the neck early in the second stanza and to up the attacking tempo, Xavi made a double change in the 67th minute, as Ousmane Dembele replaced Torres to compliment Traore on the other wing and Frenkie de Jong came on for Gavi.
The Barca substitutes made an immediate impact, as Dembele got the second goal 17 minutes before time with a smashing strike after he cut in from the byline from Frenkie de Jong's lovely pass.
Marcelino's men were overwhelmed by Blaugrana's control in the closing stages and Luuk de Jong added a third goal in the last minute with a header in the box from Dembele's cross.
Late substitute Memphis Depay rounded off the scoring in second-half stoppage with tidy finish in the box from another cross by Dembele as the Catalan giants reclaimed their fourth spot on the log.
