Barcelona Superstar Lionel Messi’s 'Masterclass Performance' Against Athletic Bilbao Turned Into Compilation

Lionel Messi returned to fine form as Barcelona defeated Athletic Bilbao 3-2 on Wednesday to climb to third place in La Liga.

Athletic stunned Barca early on as Inaki Williams opened the scoring at the San Mames, but Pedri would pull back an equaliser in the 14th minute.

Messi, 33, would put Barcelona 2-1 up going into half-time after he collected Pedri's backheel before burying his shot past Unai Simon.

The Barcelona superstar, who hit the post twice in the match, completed his brace in the second half after firing in from a powerful first-time shot.

Athletic captain Iker Muniain scored a superb 20-yard strike late in the second half, but Barca held on to take home all three points.

One fan has now created a compilation to show Messi, who wanted to leave Barcelona in the summer, delivering a 'masterclass performance' in the 3-2 win.

Barcelona are five points behind fierce rivals Real Madrid and seven points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid.

However, Diego Simeone's men have played two fewer matches than Madrid and Barcelona.

Barcelona will return to action on Saturday with an away trip to Granada before facing Real Sociedad in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final next Wednesday.

Messi is out of contract this summer and has been heavily linked with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona presidential candidate Emili Rousaud has warned that the six-time Ballon d'Or winner could leave the Spanish club in the summer if he doesn't take a pay cut.

"We'll have to sit down with Messi and ask him to make a salary cut," he said.

"Right now, with things as they are, it's unsustainable. We'll ask him to make the sacrifice. If there's no agreement, then Messi will leave.

"Messi has written the most brilliant pages in the club's history. We have to honour our legends, but the reality is what it is.

"I believe that things have to be said as they are. We can't fool our members. We'll make every effort to ensure he stays, but always with the interests of the club first."

Topics: Football News, Football, Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, Lionel Messi, La Liga

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz is a journalist for SPORTbible. He studied for a B.A. in History at the University of York and followed it up with an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism at MMU. Before he started writing about sports, he spent over four years in the gaming press. He has worked for several publications, including Hardcore Gamer, LADbible and the Manchester Evening News. Follow him on Twitter to find out what he is working on next. Got a story tip for Adnan? Email him: [email protected]

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