Barcelona continued their dominance over Athletic Club, defeating Los Leones 4-0 at Camp Nou and extending their unbeaten LaLiga record against the side to 12 matches (W10, D2). For Athletic, it marked their fifth away game of the season without a win (D1, L4).

From the first whistle, Barcelona set the tone with pace and intensity that Athletic struggled to match. Within four minutes, Robert Lewandowski slotted home the opener, and the visitors did not enter Barcelona’s half until the ninth minute. Much of the early action was compressed into a central 30-yard corridor as both teams pressed high.

Ferran Torres thought he had doubled the lead, but his goal was ruled out for offside. Athletic’s best attacking moments came through Nico Williams, while Unai Gomez squandered two clear chances, first failing to beat goalkeeper Joan Garcia and then skying a second effort shortly after.

Barcelona punished Athletic’s inefficiency in first-half stoppage time when Torres raced through and tucked the ball under Unai Simon, giving the hosts a comfortable two-goal lead.

The second half began in similar fashion. Within three minutes, Fermin Lopez linked with Eric García and powered home Barcelona’s third. The visitors were further handicapped when Oihan Sancet received a red card following a VAR review of a reckless challenge on Lopez.

Ernesto Valverde responded with a triple substitution, but Athletic could not shift the momentum. Dani Vivian came close for the visitors from a corner, while Dani Olmo fired narrowly wide. Yuri Berchiche’s poor effort 15 minutes from time epitomized Athletic’s frustrating afternoon.

Barcelona added a final flourish in stoppage time, with Ferran Torres tapping home a brilliant assist from Lamine Yamal to make it 4-0.

The win underscores Barcelona’s home dominance against Athletic Club; they have not lost at Camp Nou to the Basque side in the league since November 2001 (W21, D3). This victory, their sixth at home this season, came across three different stadiums: Camp Nou, Estadi Johan Cruyff, and Estadi Lluis Companys.