Athletic Bilbao 2-5 Barcelona

Lionel Messi has contributed to 14 goals for Barcelona in 2015, scoring (nine) and creating (five)

Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona as they moved within a point of La Liga leaders Real Madrid after winning a breathless encounter at Athletic Bilbao.

Messi's deflected free-kick, and a precise finish into the bottom corner from Luis Suarez put Barca in control.

Athletic's Mikel Rico stroked in after half-time, before Oscar De Marcos's own goal and Neymar put Barca 4-1 up.

Home striker Aritz Aduriz hit a fourth goal in seven minutes for 4-2, then Barca's Pedro tapped in a late fifth.

After opening the scoring, Argentina captain Messi turned provider to help create each of Barcelona's other four goals.

Neymar could have added a sixth, shooting straight at Athletic keeper Gorka Iraizoz when clean through, as Barca showed little mercy on a home side reduced to 10 men for the final 15 minutes.

Athletic defender Xabier Etxeita was sent off for a crude challenge on former Liverpool forward Suarez.

Luis Suarez scored his first goal in six matches and his third La Liga strike of the season

But, even with 11 men, the home side did not look capable of preventing a comfortable win for the visitors.

Barcelona were accused of being in "crisis" a month ago as speculation about Messi's future and political in-fighting at boardroom level followed a surprise defeat at David Moyes' Real Sociedad.

Coach Luis Enrique's position also came under scrutiny as that insipid performance saw Barca trail arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish title race.

However, the Catalan club have won their last five league matches - nine across all competitions - to strengthen their ambitions of regaining the title from Atletico Madrid.

The defending champions, who are third, blew open the title race with a 4-0 home win against Real in Saturday's Madrid derby.

And that heavy defeat for Real, coupled with Barca scoring 21 in their last five wins, means Luis Enrique's side now have a superior goal difference than their rivals - which could prove vital in the title race.

Elsewhere, Valencia moved up to fourth with a 2-1 victory at Espanyol, leapfrogging Sevilla who lost 2-1 at Getafe.