BILBAO, January 27 (Primera Liga) - Bojan Krkic put Barca ahead 10 minutes before half-time, but Fernando Llorente shocked the visitors with a late leveller which sees Frank Rijkaard's side lose even more ground on leaders Real Madrid.

Rijkaard restored Lionel Messi to the line-up for his first start since picking up an injury in mid-December, but the Argentina forward saw little of the ball early on as Athletic began with their usual intensity.

Javi Martinez won a corner after just three minutes when his shot was pushed wide by Victor Valdes.

But there was little in the way of goalmouth action early on.

Having witnessed just one Barcelona goal in the last two matches, Rijkaard called for his side to be more direct in the build-up to this match, and the Catalans looked for Messi at every opportunity.

The South American set off on one of his trademark dangerous runs after 10 minutes, but was dispossessed by Koikili Lertxundi.

Messi found space again after 17 minutes, but saw his shot saved by Daniel Aranzubia at the second attempt.

Andres Iniesta - who signed a new contract this week to remain at the Nou Camp until 2014 - then saw his effort deflected wide as Barcelona began to control possession.

But Athletic had their moments too and Carles Puyol did well to clear the ball from Aritz Aduriz as the home side pressed forward.

Valdes was forced to come quickly off his line to gather the ball just as Fran Yeste shaped to shoot on 26 minutes.

The Barcelona goalkeeper then saved easily from Javi Martinez on the half-hour mark as the hosts struggled to create anything tangible from their intense build-up play.

But two minutes later, the Basque side should have taken the lead.

David Lopez squared for Aduriz and the Athletic striker's shot rebounded favourably off his marker, leaving him one on one with Valdes, but the former Valladolid man blasted over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

A minute later, Barcelona took the lead.

Aranzubia came out to clear Messi's long pass, but only succeeded in diverting the ball as far as Deco, who squared for Bojan and the youngster slid a low angled shot into the corner to give the visitors a lead they barely deserved.

Barcelona began better after the break and could have gone two up within 20 seconds of the restart, but Thierry Henry flashed his low shot just wide from the edge of the area.

A minute later, the visitors threatened again and Deco fired just over the bar following good work from Messi.

Joseba Garmendia tried his luck from distance at the other end, but Athletic were struggling to find their rhythm against a Barcelona side happy to soak up the pressure.

The visitors almost added a second on 72 minutes, but Puyol shot just wide from close range.

Despite their narrow advantage, Barcelona looked to be in complete control, but relinquished their lead seven minutes later when Fernando Llorente got ahead of Lilian Thuram to poke Aitor Ramos' right-wing cross past Valdes from close range.

Thuram then twice cleared the danger as Athletic threw everything at Barcelona in the final minutes, but the damage was already done.

The Catalans' title hopes now appear slim as they once again failed to significantly close the gap on Real Madrid.

The draw sees Athletic move a point clear of the bottom three.

Meanwhile, struggling Deportivo La Coruna gave their survival hopes a boost with a convincing defeat of in-form Real Valladolid.

Alberto Lopo gave Depor an excellent start with a goal in the seventh minute and Jimenez Xisco doubled their lead within seconds of the restart.

Andres Guardado netted a third in the 72nd minute and the result was put well beyond doubt when Valladolid keeper Sergio Asenjo was shown a second yellow card for bringing down Depor subsitute Ivan Riki outside his box two minutes later.

With the visitors having used all three substitutes, Oscar Sanchez took over in goal and kept a clean sheet in the final few minutes which saw Victor Fernandez score a late consolation.

Real Mallorca eased their relegation fears and dealt a blow to Atletico Madrid's Champions League dreams with a hard-fought 1-0 win on Sunday.

Juan Arango scored the decisive goal in the 21st minute to give Mallorca their first Primera Liga win since November and Atletico's misery was complete when Jose Antonio Reyes was sent off in the closing stages.

The victory lifts the home side four points clear of the bottom three in a congested lower half of the table - indeed only nine points separate Sevilla in seventh and second bottom Deportivo La Coruna - while their opponents have now lost their last three games in all competitions.

Atletico have failed to score in any of those defeats and their stuttering form could soon see them fall out of the Champions League qualification places.

They are just one point ahead of Espanyol in fifth, with Racing Santander three further back, and with the Copa del Rey and UEFA Cup still in their thoughts, will need to regain form if a promising season is not to end in disappointment.

Recreativo Huelva slipped back into the bottom three following a disappointing defeat at home to Getafe in the Primera Liga.

Juan Angel Albin put the visitors ahead early on but Recreativo hit back shortly afterwards through Javier Camunas, only to concede an Esteban Granero strike just before the break.

Manu Del Moral then made it 3-1 in added time.

Substitute Mohamed Tchite's injury-time equaliser for Racing Santander denied new Real Zaragoza coach Javier Irureta a winning start at the Estadio El Sardinero.

A late goal from fellow substitute Albert Celades looked to have given the visitors all three points after Diego Milito had cancelled out an early Ivan Bolado strike.

But Tchite popped up late on to ensure the spoils were shared 2-2.

Espanyol's poor run of form continued as they slipped to a third consecutive Primera Liga defeat at the hands of lowly Real Betis on Sunday.

Edu scored in the dying seconds to snatch all three points after Luis Garcia had earlier cancelled out Alberto Rivera's opener for Betis.

Valencia continued their alarming slide down the Primera Liga standings with another disappointing performance against Almeria.

Felipe Melo scored the only goal of the match to secure a third successive win for the visitors and leave Ronald Koeman's side without a victory in nine league attempts.

Primera Liga basement boys Levante produced an inspired fightback to pick up their first away win of the season on Sunday and severely dent the survival hopes of fellow strugglers Real Murcia.

After a goalless first half, the game sprung into life early in the second period when Ivan Alonso put the hosts ahead.

Alvaro equalised for the visitors with 17 minutes remaining and then substitute Mustapha Riga converted from the penalty spot to put Levante ahead after a foul by Alvaro Mejia on Laurent Courtois which earned the Murcia man a red card.

The 10 men refused to capitulate, however, and looked to have earned a point when Rosinei Adolfo struck two minutes from time.

But that was reckoning without the last-gasp intervention of Leon, who struck in the last minute to give Levante all three points in dramatic fashion.