Messi inspires Barca with five-star performance

MADRID, Feb 9 (Agencies): Lionel Messi scored once and played his part in four more goals as Barcelona closed to within a point of La Liga leaders Real Madrid with a commanding performance to beat Athletic Bilbao 5-2 Sunday.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi was at the heart of another devastating attacking show as they thumped Athletic Bilbao to move within a point of leaders Real Madrid.

The Catalan side took full advantage of Real's 4-0 derby defeat by champions Atletico Madrid on Saturday with a dazzling display that moved them onto 53 points, three ahead of Atletico.

Earlier Valencia's Pablo Piatti set them on the way to a 2-1 victory at Espanyol as they moved up to fourth by leapfrogging Sevilla who slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Getafe.

Messi had a hand in all five goals and has been in inspired form in a nine-match winning streak in all competitions for Barca since a defeat by Real Sociedad which led to a reported bust-up between coach Luis Enrique and the Argentina forward.

"It is a privilege to play alongside two phenomenons (in Messi and Neymar) and I need to enjoy it," Barcelona striker Luis Suarez told reporters.

"We knew that it was going to be a difficult game but we got early goals that helped, although they (Athletic) did keep fighting to the end."