Barcelona have been criticised this season for over-elaborating in their build-up play and therefore scoring fewer goals than they should, a feature evident in last week's 1-0 win over Racing Santander.

In that match, the Catalans enjoyed more than 60% of the total possession, but rarely broke sweat and appeared to want to walk the ball into the net.

That tactic is all very well provided a win is secured, but the team came unstuck towards the end of last season when they failed to hold on to leads against Betis and Espanyol, and ended up relinquishing the title to bitter rivals Real Madrid.

Following last Sunday's narrow victory over Racing and a disappointing 0-0 draw against Villarreal in the Copa del Rey on Thursday, Rijkaard has now seemingly had enough of his side's profligacy in front of goal.

"The simple things are sometimes the most difficult ones," he said on Saturday.

"With the great talent and quality we have on the pitch, all of the players want the ball, to invent something. Sometimes there is little movement and it seems as if every goal we score must be a work of art."

Rijkaard wants his side to worry less about artistic merit and more about scoring goals.

"I want more movement and don't care how we score goals, as long as we score them. We need to be more productive," he said.

The Dutch coach is likely to give Lionel Messi his first start since December on Sunday, when Barcelona travel to Athletic Bilbao.

The Argentinian winger had been sidelined for five weeks before making substitute appearances in Barcelona's last two matches and Rijkaard says he is ready to play more than 45 minutes.

"The player is fine. He is now ready to participate in more than just one half. Whether he starts or not we will see tomorrow, but he is clearly making progress," he said.

While Messi is set to return, Ronaldinho remains absent and will miss his eighth game in a row with a troublesome bout of tendonitis.

However, Barcelona announced on their website on Thursday that the Brazilian forward will resume full training next week and should be fit in time for next weekend's match against Osasuna.

Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Toure are away at the African Nations Cup and are therefore unavailable on Sunday, while reserve goalkeeper Albert Jorquera remains sidelined.

In his absence, Barcelona moved to sign Celta Vigo goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto last week as back-up for Victor Valdes.

Rijkaard has no other injury concerns for the trip to Bilbao.

Barcelona remain second in the Primera Liga, seven points behind Real Madrid.

Bilbao, meanwhile, are still in trouble at the wrong end of the table.

The Basque side lie in 15th place, above the relegation zone merely on goal difference after losing to Osasuna last weekend.

Coach Joaquin Caparros will also be without several key players for the game against Barcelona.

Goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz looks set to miss the rest of the season through injury and veteran forward Joseba Etxeberria is also sidelined.

Fran Yeste and Fernando Amorebieta are both suspended, but David Lopez, Koikili Lertxundi, Unai Exposito and Luis Prieto could all feature after they were rested for Thursday night's Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg against Racing, which Athletic lost 2-0.

Defender Ustaritz Aldekoaotalora believes Barcelona are always tough to play against.

"There is never a good time to play Barcelona," he said.

"We all know the quality their players have and they can score a goal against you out of nothing. We know what we are up against and how we need to approach the game, but we will need to be at our best from the start.

"Let's hope the fans support us to the full, and with their help, we can have a good game and get the points."