Barcelona’s Bojan Krkic scored twice in a 4-1 home win over Athletic Bilbao that put his side three points clear at the top of La Liga on Saturday.
Bojan was a late replacement for Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic who injured his calf in the warm-up but was not missed as a weakened Barca swept aside Bilbao.
Jeffren, 22, opened the scoring after 27 minutes and Bojan, 19, a fellow product of the club’s youth system, struck either side of halftime to put the European champions in control.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Lionel Messi netted his 26th league goal of the campaign in the 67th minute and although Markel Susaeta pulled one back for the visitors, the result at the Camp Nou was never in doubt.
“I suppose you were shaken when you read the team sheet,” Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola joked to reporters. “But it is possible to go to the end of the world with these players.”
“I am happy with the goals and three vital points,” said Bojan — born in Spain of a Serb father and Spanish mother.
“Goals always give you confidence and if the coach needs me [against Arsenal and Real Madrid] I am ready,” he said.
Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes made a number of saves after Susaeta had slid a shot under the goalkeeper for Athletic’s goal.
Valdes’ recent good form has put him in the running for a spot in Spain’s World Cup squad.
“At this moment, I’m dedicated to my club,” Valdes said. “But it would be a dream if that call came.”
Valdes has yet to make an appearance for the senior Spanish national side.
Barca have 77 points from 30 matches.
Ibrahimovic has been ruled out for the visit of Arsenal in the Champions League the club said in a statement.
The Swede scored both goals in Barca’s 2-2 Champions League quarter-final first leg draw at The Emirates stadium on Wednesday.
An initial examination revealed he had a small tear in his right calf.
Sevilla ended a run of eight games without a win by beating lowly Tenerife 3-0 in the late match.
Frederic Kanoute set new coach Antonio Alvarez on course for his first victory after 22 minutes and Luis Fabiano doubled the lead, chesting down and swiveling to score a superb second just before the break.
Jose Carlos curled in a free kick near the end to leave Sevilla fourth on 48 points.
Real Zaragoza pulled away from the relegation zone with a 2-0 home win over Malaga thanks to goals from Leonardo Ponzio and Humberto Suazo.
Guardiola had tomorrow’s Champions League quarter-final return leg against Arsenal and a top-of-the-table La Liga clash at Real Madrid on Saturday on his mind when he put out an unfamiliar side at the Camp Nou.
He was forced to replace Ibrahimovic but chose to include rarely used Ukrainian Dmytro Chygrynskiy at center back while Brazilian left back Maxwell started in midfield.
With Xavi, Pedro and Seydou Keita on the bench and Daniel Alves suspended, Barca lacked their usual fluency.
Jeffren stroked the ball in at the back post from Eric Abidal’s low cross and it was Carles Puyol’s interception and pass that set up Bojan for the second before the break.
Bojan struck a fierce third from the edge of the area after a sweeping move in the 59th minute before Messi slid in Pedro’s cross to secure victory.
Barca may have failed to reproduce the thrilling soccer that illuminated their 2-2 draw at Arsenal in the week but a lackluster Bilbao offered little until a breakaway goal sparked a late flurry.
additional reporting by staff writer
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