MX23RW : Wednesday, November 27 04:18:50| >> :120:19499:19499:
[monks data]
Athletic Bilbao logo
La Liga
Aug 23, 2015 at 5.30pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Suarez (54')

Preview: Athletic Bilbao vs. Barcelona

Sports Mole looks ahead to Barcelona's Primera Liga opener at Athletic Bilbao as the reigning champions look to kick off their defence in style.

Treble-winning Barcelona bring a dual agenda with them to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday as their Primera Liga title defence gets underway at San Mames.

Luis Enrique's side will look to secure a winning start to the campaign, but revenge is also on the menu following their 4-0 Spanish Super Cup defeat just eight days ago.


Athletic Bilbao

Athletic Bilbao's defender Mikel San Jose is congratulated by teammates midfielder Benat Etxebarria (L), midfielder Oscar de Marcos (3rd L) and defender Xabier Etxeita (R) after scoring during the Spanish Supercup first-leg football match Athletic Club Bi© Getty Images

When the 2015-16 fixtures were announced, Atletic Bilbao could have been forgiven for believing that they drew the short straw as far as opening-day matches go.

However, events of the last eight days have ensured that hosting Barcelona is nowhere near as ominous as it looked on paper back in July. Not for Ernesto Valverde's men, anyway.

Last Friday, Bilbao thumped the Catalans 4-0 in a Spanish Super Cup first leg at San Mames in a result that clasped one hand on the trophy - their first since 1984 - and ripped away Barcelona's air of invincibility in the process.

Three days later they finished the job at Camp Nou with a 1-1 draw to cap a 5-1 win and, according to some, give themselves a psychological edge coming into their Liga opener tomorrow night.

Lightning does not strike twice, and while another 4-0 demolition at San Mames is highly unlikely - in favour of Bilbao, at least - the victory will have surely removed the visitors' fear factor to some degree.

Not that Valverde and co have the option of being blasé about the fixture, because there is a reason why Barca were vying for a fifth trophy in 2015, but the manner of their 5-1 victory will administer a huge confidence boost.

Recent form: WDL
Pre-season form: DLWDDL


Barcelona

Rafinha of Barcelona scores the third goal under pressure from Beto and Coke of Sevilla during the UEFA Super Cup between Barcelona and Sevilla FC at Dinamo Arena on August 11, 2015© Getty Images

Barcelona know that they can ill afford to rest on their laurels as they look to kick off their Liga defence with a victory and enact revenge on Athletic in the process. Neither will prove an easy task tomorrow on the evidence of last Friday.

While it must be noted that Enrique elected to rest a number of key players as a result of their hectic schedule, having returned from Georgia after beating Sevilla 5-4 in extra-time to clinch the UEFA Super Cup just days before, their 4-0 defeat was still a huge shock.

Two-thirds of the Catalans' formidable attacking triumvirate - which scored 122 times last term - were present as Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi lined up; two figures whose presence made the result all the more remarkable.

Simply put, Barcelona were annihilated. It was an aggregate defeat that cost them their bid for the sextuple, having won four trophies in 2015 - Primera Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League and UEFA Super Cup - and revenge will certainly be among the themes tomorrow.

Still, victory is more important than proving a point, especially with Real Madrid being something of an unknown quantity under the tutelage of Rafael Benitez.

Even in these early stages, Barca - who finished two points clear of Carlo Ancelotti's Real last term - would rather be in front of their Clasico rivals than behind them - and with the Blancos facing newly-promoted Sporting Gijon, dropped points is likely to leave Enrique's men behind them.

Recent form: WLD
Pre-season form: WLLLW


Team News

Neymar of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad de Futbol at Camp Nou on May 9, 2015© Getty Images

Neymar returned to training this week after being diagnosed with mumps earlier in the month, but Sunday comes too soon for the 23-year-old.

Gerard Pique will miss the trip as he serves the first of a four-match ban for insulting an official in Monday's second-leg stalemate.

Meanwhile, his centre-back partner Jeremy Mathieu is also suspended as Marc Bartra and Javier Mascherano prepare to deputise in the heart of Barcelona's defence.

If the absence of Neymar, Pique and Mathieu was not enough to concern Enrique, left-back Jordi Alba is also doubtful.

Elsewhere, Aritz Aduriz - who scored a hat-trick in that first-leg demolition - was kept in reserve for Bilbao's 3-2 Europa League playoff defeat at Zilina, but is expected to spearhead the hosts' attack tomorrow evening.

Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Iraizoz; De Marcos, Etxieta, Laporte, Balenziaga; Susaeta, San Jose, Benat, Merino, Eraso; Aduriz

Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Bravo; Alves, Bartra, Mascherano, Adriano; Busquets, Iniesta, Rakitic; Suarez, Rafinha, Messi


Head To Head

Prior to losing last Friday, Barcelona had not lost to Bilbao since 2013 - a 1-0 home victory at San Mames. That was their first win over Barca since way back in 2006. Overall, Sunday's visitors have won 10 of the last 17 meetings - including a 5-2 win in Bilbao in February.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Athletic Bilbao 1-4 Barcelona

Despite being humbled at San Mames just eight days ago, it is difficult to see anything but a firm Barcelona response tomorrow. Enrique's men are certain to be well rested, having had a six-day recovery period from the second-leg draw at Camp Nou, and we reckon the reigning champions will dish out a backlash of sorts.



ID:241186: cacheID:241186:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:10701:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ernesto Valverde head coach of Athletic Bilbao during the first leg of UEFA Champions League qualifying play-offs round match between SSC Napoli and Athletic Club on August 19, 2014
Read Next:
Match Analysis: Barcelona 1-1 (1-5) Athletic Bilbao
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!