As might be expected on their return to Camp Nou, Barcelona were straight into their stride from the first whistle, and Athletic just couldn’t handle the speed and intensity from the home side.
Within four minutes, Robert Lewandowski drilled home the opener, and it was another five before the visitors managed a foray into the Barça half. As the half progressed, and with both teams playing a high line, much of the action was condensed into a congested 30-yard central section of the pitch.
A smart finish from Ferran Torres was chalked off for offside, whilst Nico Williams was liveliest for Athletic when they were able to stem the flow of Barcelona attacks.
Heading into the break, Unai Gomez should’ve scored from Williams’ knockdown but could only find the gloves of Joan Garcia, and the same player skied a second presentable chance just a few minutes later.
They were made to pay for their profligacy when Torres burst through and squeezed his shot under Unai Simon in first-half stoppage time to give the hosts a two-goal cushion.
Within three minutes of the restart, Fermin Lopez’s give-and-go with Eric García saw the former power home Barça’s third, and Athletic were really up against it when Oihan Sancet’s wild challenge on the goalscorer was adjudged to be a red card offence after a VAR review.
That prompted a triple change from Ernesto Valverde, which did nothing to alter the pattern of play as the Catalans eased into the final third of the match.
Dani Vivian was unlucky with a chance after an Athletic corner, whilst Dani Olmo fizzed a daisy cutter just wide shortly after.
Yuri Berchiche’s poor effort with 15 minutes to play summed up the visitors’ afternoon, and thanks to a brilliant Lamine Yamal assist, Ferran put the gloss on a superb Barça performance in stoppage time.
Not since November 2001 have Barcelona been beaten at home by Athletic in the league (W21, D3), with the win – their sixth at home this season – coming at their third different stadium (Camp Nou, Estadi Johan Cruyff, and Estadi Lluis Companys).
Flashscore Man of the Match: Fermin Lopez (Barcelona)