Barcelona make Athletic look lame

Barcelona's Eidur Gudjohnsen(R) beats Athletic Bilbao's Ustaritz Aldekoaotalora to the ball during a Spanish league football match at San Mames stadium in Bilbao, north of Spain. Barcelona, Spanish champions for the last two years, continue to make the pace in La Liga after a 3-1 win at struggling Athletic Bilbao.

Barcelona, Spanish champions for the last two years, continue to make the pace in La Liga after a 3-1 win at struggling Athletic Bilbao.

The Catalan club hardly missed their injured striker Samuel Eto'o, who injured his knee against Werder Bremen on Wednesday, with goals from his replacements Eidar Gudjohnson and Javier Saviola.

Athletic defender Ustaritz Aldekoatalora also put through his own net to add to Athletic's misery.

Barcelona got an early shock when Athletic's Francisco Yeste sent a stunning left foot volley into the net after 11 minutes, firing home from just left of the penalty spot after an excellent cross from Fernando Llorente.

However, the night started go sour for Athletic just nine minutes later.

The Basques' defender Javier Casas was harshly shown a red card after a seemingly innocuous challenge on Gudjohnsen, who was starting his first league game for Barcelona since joining in the summer from Chelsea.

Athletic Bilbao's Joseba Garmendia(L) heads the ball against Barcelona's Carles Puyol during a Spanish league football match at San Mames stadium in Bilbao, north of Spain. Barcelona, Spanish champions for the last two years, continue to make the pace in La Liga after a 3-1 win at struggling Athletic Bilbao.

Barcelona slowly turned up the pressure to utilise their one man advantage.

The Catalan club got the reward for their efforts one minute into injury time at the end of the first half when Aldekoatalora turned a Gudjohnsen cross past his own keeper Inaki Lafuente.

Gudjohnsen then got on the scoresheet himself when he connected with a Xavi Hernandez pass right on the hour to put Barcelona in front.

The visitors continued to outplay Athletic and second half substitute Andres Iniesta set up Saviola to score Barcelona's third goal 13 minutes from time.

"We did some things that weren't so good and we did something very well so it was generally a game to be happy with," said Barcelona's Brazilian star Ronaldinho.

The loss leaves Athletic still without a win this season and, after a difficult 2005-06 campaign when they were stuck in the relegation zone for the first half of the season, history appears to be repeating itself.

Athletic Bilbao's Joseba Etxeberria(L) challenges Barcelona's Ronaldinho during a Spanish league football match at San Mames stadium in Bilbao, north of Spain. Barcelona, Spanish champions for the last two years, continue to make the pace in La Liga after a 3-1 win at struggling Athletic Bilbao.

Real Madrid and Valencia, second and third respectively, are also unbeaten but play on Sunday.

In the Madrid derby, Real play host to local rivals Atletico with their confidence sky-high after a 5-1 thrashing of Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Tuesday but they will have to win by four goals again to grab pole position in the Spanish first division from Barcelona.

Real coach Fabio Capello has again called up Ronaldo despite his Brazilian superstar being far from match-fit following summer knee surgery.

"I don't think we fear Atletico, but we respect them. However, if I get on the field, and score then they'll have to respect us more," said the three-time World Player of the Year.

Nevertheless, he is likely to start on the bench with former England captain David Beckham also expected to be among the substitutes for the fourth successive game.

Valencia entertain newly-promoted Gimnastic Tarragona on Sunday.