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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
ATHLETIC BILBAO  IraizozIraola, Martinez, Dominguez, Aurtenetxe Iturraspe, De Marcos, Ander Susaeta, Llorente, Muniain | BARCELONA  Valdes Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta Messi, Fabregas, Villa |
David Lopez is doubtful for Athletic after spraining a ligament in his right ankle. Borja Ekiz recently recovered from from a similar sprain in his right ankle.
Oscar De Marcos has just returned from a shoulder injury and featured in his side's 1-0 away win over Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League on Thursday.
Pedro is still recovering from a knee injury and trained apart from his team-mates on Friday. Ibrahim Afellay is still a long-term absentee due to a knee cruciate ligament injury.
Alexis Sanchez returned from injury in the Champions League win over Viktoria Plzen and should be in the squad to face Athletic.
Pep Guardiola has the rest of his squad at his disposal for the trip to San Mames.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- The last time Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao met was in February, when goals from David Villa and Lionel Messi ensured a 2-1 victory for Pep Guardiola's side.
- Athletic have had a mixed record at home so far in La Liga, with 2 wins, 2 draws, and a loss.
- Athletic have scored just under half the amount of goals that Barca have notched up in the league so far, with 15 goals to 32.
- In Barcelona's midweek 4-0 victory over Viktoria Plzen, Victor Valdes set the record for consecutive minutes without conceding a goal for his side. He has gone 787 minutes and counting without letting anything past him.
- Lionel Messi has scored six goals in his last 180 minutes of football.
- Messi scored a hat-trick in his last match for Barcelona, taking his goal tally for the Catalan side beyond the double-century barrier to 202 in 286 appearances.
Prediction
The last three encounters between Athletic and Barcelona have been very close games. The Catalan side won the last instalment 2-1 but two tight draws preceded that match and expect it to be much the same this time around. The San Mames crowd will be fully behind their team as the champions come to visit, but with Lionel Messi particularly in the form he is in, Barca may just get the win. However, with the attacking quality of Llorente and Muniain in attack, Athletic certainly have the quality to score against Barcelona.
Editor's Prediction
Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Barcelona 
