San Mames will play host to an intriguing La Liga contest on Sunday evening, as the Spanish champions Barcelona take on Athletic Bilbao.
Barcelona are currently third in the La Liga table, eight points behind the leaders Real Madrid, while Athletic occupy fifth position, three points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.
Xavi's side will enter the contest off the back of a 4-0 win over Getafe in Spain's top flight, while Athletic recorded a 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid on Thursday evening to book their spot in the Copa del Rey final, but the Basque club's attention will now switch back to their top-four challenge.
Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between Athletic and Barcelona ahead of their clash at San Mames.
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Head-to-head record
Previous meetings: 240
Athletic Bilbao wins: 80
Draws: 39
Barcelona wins: 121
Barcelona have tackled Athletic on 240 occasions throughout history, and the Catalan outfit lead the overall head-to-head, having recorded 121 wins to Athletic's 80, while there have also been 39 draws.
Unsurprisingly, Barcelona have also scored more goals in this particular fixture, finding the back of the net on 444 occasions, while Athletic have struck 334 times.
Lionel Messi is comfortably the all-time leading goalscorer in matches between the two sides, with the Argentine netting 29 times against Athletic during his time with Barcelona.
The two sides have already met twice this season; Barcelona recorded a 1-0 victory in La Liga back in October, but Athletic gained revenge in the Copa del Rey earlier this year, running out 4-2 winners in their last-eight affair.
Each of Athletic's last four victories over Barcelona have been in cup affairs, with Barcelona dominating this fixture in Spain's top flight in recent years, while their overall record against Athletic in La Liga stands at 94 wins, 60 defeats and 31 draws.
Barcelona have won their last four La Liga games against Athletic, scoring 10 times and conceding zero, including a 1-0 victory at San Mames last season.
The Catalan outfit have won seven of their last eight league affairs with the Lions, meanwhile, with Athletic's last league success over Barcelona proving to be a 1-0 victory in August 2019.
Athletic have beaten Barcelona just once in Spain's top flight since December 2013, which is an indication of the size of the task facing the Basque team in this weekend's affair.
Taking it further, Athletic have just three league wins against Barcelona since November 2001, while the reigning champions went on a nine-game winning run against Athletic in Spain's top flight between April 2014 and March 2018.
Last 20 meetings
Jan 24, 2024: Athletic Bilbao 4-2 Barcelona (Copa del Rey Quarter-Finals)
Oct 22, 2023: Barcelona 1-0 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)
Mar 12, 2023: Athletic Bilbao 0-1 Barcelona (La Liga)
Oct 23, 2022: Barcelona 4-0 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)
Feb 27, 2022: Barcelona 4-0 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)
Jan 20, 2022: Athletic Bilbao 3-2 Barcelona (Copa del Rey Round of 16)
Aug 21, 2021: Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Barcelona (La Liga)
Apr 17, 2021: Athletic Bilbao 0-4 Barcelona (Copa del Rey Final)
Jan 31, 2021: Barcelona 2-1 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)
Jan 17, 2021: Barcelona 2-3 Athletic Bilbao (Supercopa de Espana Final)
Jan 06, 2021: Athletic Bilbao 2-3 Barcelona (La Liga)
Jun 23, 2020: Barcelona 1-0 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)
Feb 06, 2020: Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Barcelona (Copa del Rey Quarter-Finals)
Aug 16, 2019: Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Barcelona (La Liga)
Feb 10, 2019: Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Barcelona (La Liga)
Sep 29, 2018: Barcelona 1-1 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)
Mar 18, 2018: Barcelona 2-0 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)
Oct 28, 2017: Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Barcelona (La Liga)
Feb 04, 2017: Barcelona 3-0 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)
Jan 11, 2017: Barcelona 3-1 Athletic Bilbao (Copa del Rey Round Five)
Last 10 La Liga meetings
Oct 22, 2023: Barcelona 1-0 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)
Mar 12, 2023: Athletic Bilbao 0-1 Barcelona (La Liga)
Oct 23, 2022: Barcelona 4-0 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)
Feb 27, 2022: Barcelona 4-0 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)
Aug 21, 2021: Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Barcelona (La Liga)
Jan 31, 2021: Barcelona 2-1 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)
Jan 06, 2021: Athletic Bilbao 2-3 Barcelona (La Liga)
Jun 23, 2020: Barcelona 1-0 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)
Aug 16, 2019: Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Barcelona (La Liga)
Feb 10, 2019: Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Barcelona (La Liga)
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