Sunday 2 December 2012 11:54, UK
Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova played down his achievement in leading the team to the best ever start to a Primera Division campaign after Saturday evening's thumping 5-1 win over Athletic Bilbao at the Nou Camp.
Two goals in three minutes - from Gerard Pique and a deflected Messi effort - midway through the opening 45 minutes put Barca firmly in the ascendancy and Adriano added a superb third in first-half stoppage time. Cesc Fabregas notched a neat fourth soon after the break and, after Ibai Gomez had pulled a goal back with Athletic's first noteworthy attack of the match, Messi rounded things off with a brilliant fifth goal. Messi's brace left the 25-year-old needing just one more goal to equal Gerd Muller's record of 85 in a calendar year, set in 1972. The win consolidated top spot in La Liga for Vilanova's team, who finished the day six points clear at the summit after Real Madrid saw off second-placed Atletico Madrid 2-0 in the late kick-off.