Brilliant Neymar nets twice as Barcelona secure victory over Bilbao

Barcelona continued their 100 per cent winning start to the La Liga campaign courtesy of a brilliant late double from substitute Neymar to ensure a two goal victory over Athletic Bilbao.

The hosts had been lacking a spark with youngster Munir El Haddadi in particular guilty of missing a host of chances but Neymar replaced the Spanish international just after the hour mark and made an instant impact by bagging two goals in the last 11 minutes of play.

Gorka Iraizoz was kept busy in the Bilbao goal throughout the match with Munir going close on a number of occasions and it looked as though the goalkeeper would be the hero of the day until Neymar broke the heart of the Basque club with his partner in crime Messi assisting both goals.

The first goal came on 79 minutes when Sergio Busquets collected the ball on the half-way line and played a fantastic pass to Messi who in turn picked out Neymar in behind the Bilbao defence and he coolly slid the ball beyond Iraizoz.

Neymar added his second just five minutes later with a low drive after latching onto a drag back from Messi, who had done brilliantly to evade multiple challenges before delivering a killer delivery.

The win gives Barcelona a maximum nine points while Bilbao have now lost two out of their first three league games.

2’ - GREAT STOP! What a start from Bilbao who almost took the lead inside the first couple of minutes as Muniain and Bernat link up, with Bernat forcing a powerful effort at goal but Bravo does well to make the stop!

4’ - PEDRO! Iraizoz is forced to deny the Spanish attacker from close range but he should really have scored! Montoya crossed for Pedro who struck his effort straight at the keeper! What a start!

18’ - OVER! Messi creates the best chance of the game so far as he finds Munir behind the Bilbao defence with a wonderfully executed pass but the youngster blasts the ball well over the bar.

24’ - PENALTY SHOUT! Aduriz falls under the feet of Mascherano and instantly demands a penalty! However, the referee waves play on! Barcelona perhaps got away with that one.

33’ - CONTROVERSY! Iraizoz charges out of his area and pushes Munir to the floor but the referee instead strangely gives Bilbao a free-kick instead of Barcelona a penalty.

38’ - PENALTY APPEAL! This time Barcelona are claiming a penalty after Munir fell inside the box under pressure from Gurpegi, but the referee isn't having any of it. It would have been soft.

42’ - ANOTHER MUHIR CHANCE! Messi is the provider again as he find the 19-year-old with a low cross but is unable to seal the finish as the shot goes wide.

50’ - GOAL DISALLOWED! Barcelona thought they had taken the lead but the linesman correctly had his flag up. Messi picked out Muhir who slid the ball into the net. Correct decision.

57’ - MUNIR! The youngster is provided with yet another chance as he meets Alba's cross but us unable to find a way past Iraizoz! It's not going to be his day!

63’ - HERE COMES NEYMAR! Barcelona need a spark, can the Brazilian provide it? He replaces Munir who has been guilty of missing multiple chances today.

68’ - SO CLOSE! Neymar has made an instant inpact but even the Brazilian captain isn't having any luck! He drifts past two Bilbao tackles before unleashing an effort towards th top corner but the ball just bends around the post.

79’ – GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Athletic Bilbao: Neymar does what Munir couldn't with a cool and calculated finish! Busquets start the move off with a great ball to Messi who plays a lovely threaded pass to Neymar who simply slides the ball under the keeper!

84’ – GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Athletic Bilbao: He does it again! Messi dribbles through three or four challenges before playing the ball across goal to Neymar who finishes the ball into the bottom corner. What an impact the substitute has made!

Only Real Madrid and Barcelona have met more times in La Liga (168) than Barça (W79) and Athletic (W59).

Neymar has scored his third brace for Barcelona in La Liga, all of them at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona conceded their first shot on target in La Liga after 208 minutes played (Ander Iturraspe). Security

Where will Suarez fit in? Although they struggled to find an opening until the introduction of Neymar, Barcelona certainly do not have any problems in front of goal. In Minur, they have one of the hottest prospects in European football but when it wasn’t working for him, Luis Enrique simply brought on Neymar to complete the job. Messi and Neymar work brilliantly well and their relationship showed its class in the last half an hour of this victory. But what about Luis Suarez? The former Liverpool man looked on anxiously today and it won’t be long before he is available to play. A forward line of Messi, Neymar and Suarez would scare any team. That’s if Luis Enrique can find space for all three of them.

Neymar (Barcelona): Luis Enrique’s side had been lacking a crucial finishing touch before Neymar made his way onto the pitch on 63 minutes but within 21 minutes, Barcelona found themselves two goals up courtesy of the Brazilian superstar with two really cool finishes.

Barcelona: Bravo 6; Montoya 7, Mathieu 6, Mascherano 6, Alba 7; Busquets 7, Rakitic 7, Iniesta 6; Munir 6, Messi 8, Pedro 7. Substitutes: Pique 6, Neymar 9, Pedro 6.

Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz 8; De Marcos 6, Laporte 7, Gurpegi 6, Balenziaga 6; Iturraspe 6, Rico 6, Benat 6; Susaeta 7, Muniain 7, Aduriz 6. Substitutes: Gomez 6, Lopez 6, Viguera 6.