The Uruguayan scored a hat-trick to move clear as La Liga’s top scorer, but Lionel Messi was taken off at half-time as a precaution after feeling a pain in his hamstring
Luis Suarez’s hat-trick helped Barcelona extended their dominant La Liga record againstAthletic Bilbao with a crushing 6-0 victory over the 10-man Basque side at Camp Nou on Sunday.
Goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz saw red after just four minutes for bringing down Suarez and, after Lionel Messi drilled home the resulting penalty, Barca’s 12th win in 12 against the Basque side never looked in doubt.
Neymar added a second before setting up Suarez for a third just after half-time, and some magic from the Brazilian handed Ivan Rakitic an unmissable chance to make it 4-0 just past the hour mark.
Suarez bagged the fifth from close range and headed home a late sixth to secure Barca’s biggest win of the league season so far.
The only potential blemish for Luis Enrique’s title-holders was the withdrawal of Lionel Messi at half-time, the Argentina star reportedly suffering from pain in his right hamstring.
Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde made changes in the second half as he looked to rest players for the Copa del Rey clash with Barca this week, while Luis Enrique’s side moved back to within two points of Liga leaders Atletico Madrid, having played one game less.
DOWNLOAD VIDEO