Barcelona Overcome Battling Athletic

Barcelona 3 - 1 Athletic Bilbao

On the balance of play, Barcelona deserved their win - but it was not without controversy. While the home side were clearly superior, it took a debatable penalty and a questionable late strike to fully seal the points over a physical Athletic side at the Nou Camp..

Barcelona picked up their first win of the season after an entertaining and controversial encounter at the Camp Nou.

In a close-fought first half, Barca ended up leading by two goals after a brace of set pieces from Ronaldinho.

Eight minutes into the encounter and 'Dinho gave his side the lead! The Brazilian forward launched a direct free kick with tremendous force far past Gorka into the top-right hand corner.

Minutes later, he almost repeated the feat, but watched his effort fly just over the bar. His magical touch was clearly back.

That goal, long-awaited following last week's 0-0 draw in Santander, had given Barcelona a new lease of life, but Athletic, rejuvenated this season under Joaquin Caparros, kept their illustrious hosts at bay for much of the half.

But eventually, the second strike came. Ronaldinho let slide a wonderful pass into the box, and Gorka Iraizoz was adjudged to have pulled down Thierry Henry.

It was not to be the goalkeeper's day. After having his injured mouth looked at, he promptly watched as Ronaldinho slammed home the penalty.

Barca were beginning to look like their old selves again and, moreover, were not shirking on effort as they headed in for half time.

The second half started in more sedate fashion, the crowd only awakening to welcome Giovani dos Santos to the pitch on the hour mark. However, the match burst back into life twenty minutes from the end when Susaeta pulled one back. The young attacker capitalised on a poor punch from Valdes to slot the ball in through what was a forest of legs.

Two minutes later, though, and it was 3-1 - at least according to the referee. After good work from Giovani and Ronaldinho, Yaya Toure's rifling effort bounced in off the cross-bar and came back out.

At least that was the official version remains. The referee hesitated before making a decision, opting to consult his assistant. After a not from the touchline, the goal was awarded, and it was 3-1. Replays suggested it might just have bounced on the line.

That about did it for the goals, but there was still drama to come. First, Rafael Marquez, making his first team return, saw a second booking after bringing down Aduriz, but the worst was to follow.

"Koi" Koikili saw a straight red after a fairly disgusting challenge on Giovani dos Santos, ending hopes of an eleven-man Athletic revival with ten minutes left to go.

Despite those ugly scenes, and the defeat, Athletic coach Joaquin Caparros can be happy with his team's drilled precision and committed defending this evening.

Frank Rijkaard, meanwhile, will be tremendously relieved with Barca's three points, and the flashes of excellence they showed in the first half. For all the goals and the points, though, this team is not quite the finished article yet

FC Barcelona: Valdés - Zambrotta, Márquez, Oleguer, Abidal - Touré, Deco (Iniesta, 66'), Xavi - Ronaldinho (Milito, 77'), Messi, Henry (Giovani, 61').

Athletic Club: Iraizoz - Iraola, Ustaritz, Amorebieta, Koikili - Tiko (Iñaki Muñoz, 57'), Javi Martínez - Gabilondo (Vélez, 46'), Susaeta (Cuéllar, 80'), David López - Aduritz.

Goals: 1-0, Ronaldinho (8'), 2-0, Ronaldinho (34', penalty), 2-1, Susaeta (71'). 3-1, Touré Yaya (72').