Without Eto'o, Barcelona rallies past winless Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao hit the back of the net early but couldn't hold on against Barcelona after having a man sent off.
An own goal on the stroke of halftime and two strikes after the restart clinched a 3-1 victory and all three points for Barcelona on Saturday in their first game without injured striker Samuel Eto'o.
The Cameroon star was lost for five months after going down with a knee injury in midweek draw against Werder Bremen in the Champions League.
Barcelona coach Rijkaard spoke of wanting to win the contest for Eto'o in the build-up, but it did not look promising when Fran Yeste put his team ahead with a left-footed shot in the area just 12 minutes into the game.
If Barca were on the back foot after that goal, they were suddenly enjoying a man advantage. Athletic defender Javier Casas was red-carded for a bad tackle on Barca's Icelandic striker Eidur Gudjohnsen in the 19th minute.
Just when it appeared Athletic would take a lead to the changing room, Gudjohnsen hit a low cross into the area and as Puyol fought for position, the ball glanced off Aldekoaotalora Ustaritz and went into his own net.
After the restart, Gudjohnsen put them in front after having a pass threaded in by Xavi in the 61st minute. The Icelandic international flicked the ball past onrushing keeper Inaki Lafuente and celebrated after watching it bounce into the right corner of the goal.
Javier Saviola, the Argentinian international who spent the previous two seasons at Monaco and then Sevilla, came on as a 72nd minute substitute for Gudjohnsen and made the most of his opportunity. This time it was Andres Iniesta who provided, crossing for Saviola who had the easiest of strikes.
Barcelona have a long way to go to retain the title, especially without Eto'o. But the signs from the Basque country on this occasion were pretty good that at least, the Catalans will be tough to beat.
The victory has put them three points clear at the top at least four 24 hours, while struggling Athletic could be bottom after Sunday's games. They are winless in five games.