Match ends, Athletic Club 0, Barcelona 1.
Ath BilbaoAthletic Bilbao0BarcelonaBarcelona1
Luis Suarez scored and Lionel Messi missed the 14th penalty of his career as Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao in their La Liga opener.
But the treble winners, who cannot sign players until January, lost full-back Dani Alves and midfielder Sergio Busquets to injury.
Messi's penalty kick was saved by Gorka Iraizoz after Gorka Elustondo was deemed to have fouled Suarez.
After the break, Suarez scored the winner from Jordi Alba's cross.
It was the first time in three years the Uruguayan has been able to start a season following biting bans in the past two years.
But Luis Enrique, who has lost Pedro and Xavi from his squad this summer, will be worried about injuries to right-back Alves and midfielder Busquets.
Barca are not allowed to register Arda Turan or Aleix Vidal, or any other summer signings they make, until January because of a transfer ban,
The game will be seen as revenge for Barcelona, who lost 5-1 to Athletic Bilbao over two legs in the Spanish Super Cup in the past two weeks.
Real Madrid played Sporting Gijon immediately afterwards, and drew their match 0-0.
Atletico Madrid beat Las Palmas 1-0 on Saturday, with Antoine Griezmann scoring the only goal.
Line-ups
Ath Bilbao
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Iraizoz Moreno
- 10De Marcos Arana
- 3Elustondo UrkolaBooked at 34mins
- 4Laporte
- 24Balenziaga OruesagastiSubstituted forBóveda Altubeat 50'minutes
- 17Rico MorenoSubstituted forGurpegi Nausiaat 62'minutes
- 7Etxebarria Urkiaga
- 14Susaeta
- 5Eraso GoñiBooked at 37mins
- 25Merino ZuloagaSubstituted forGómez Pérezat 63'minutesBooked at 71mins
- 20Aduriz
Substitutes
- 2Bóveda Altube
- 11Gómez Pérez
- 13Herrerín Buisán
- 18Gurpegi Nausia
- 21Viguera
- 23Aketxe Barrutia
- 30Lekue Martínez
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Bravo
- 6Alves da SilvaSubstituted forRoberto Carnicerat 19'minutes
- 14Mascherano
- 23VermaelenBooked at 64mins
- 18Alba
- 4RakiticBooked at 44mins
- 5BusquetsSubstituted forBartraat 68'minutes
- 8Iniesta
- 10Messi
- 9SuárezBooked at 75mins
- 12RafinhaSubstituted forRamírezat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 1ter Stegen
- 15Bartra
- 17El Haddadi
- 19Ramírez
- 20Roberto Carnicer
- 27Cámara Mesa
- 28Gumbau
- Referee:
- Carlos del Cerro Grande
- Attendance:
- 44,772
Match Stats
Home TeamAth BilbaoAway TeamBarcelona
- Possession
- Home33%
- Away67%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away4
- Corners
- Home2
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Athletic Club 0, Barcelona 1.
Post update
Offside, Barcelona. Javier Mascherano tries a through ball, but Sergi Roberto is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Club) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Elustondo.
Post update
Luis Suárez (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Elustondo (Athletic Club).
Post update
Offside, Barcelona. Ivan Rakitic tries a through ball, but Luis Suárez is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ivan Rakitic.
Post update
Offside, Barcelona. Lionel Messi tries a through ball, but Luis Suárez is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Sandro Ramírez replaces Rafinha.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ibai Gómez (Athletic Club) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Eraso with a headed pass.
Post update
Attempt missed. Markel Susaeta (Athletic Club) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Eraso.
Booking
Luis Suárez (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Luis Suárez (Barcelona).
Post update
Gurpegi (Athletic Club) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Luis Suárez (Barcelona).
Post update
Eraso (Athletic Club) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Offside, Athletic Club. Aymeric Laporte tries a through ball, but Eraso is caught offside.
Booking
Ibai Gómez (Athletic Club) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the right wing.
