Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona

Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona are set to lock horns at the Estadio San Mames in a high-stakes La Liga fixture.

Athletic Bilbao booked their place in the Copa del Rey final with an emphatic 3-0 home win against Atletico Madrid in midweek, delivering a perfect response to last weekend’s 3-1 league loss at Real Betis. That result forms part of Bilbao’s topsy-turvy run, which has seen them alternate between winning (2) and not (D2, L1) across their last five La Liga outings. Consistency is imperative for Ernesto Valverde’s side if they’re to overhaul a three-point deficit on fourth-placed Atletico. Barcelona’s upcoming visit threatens those hopes as Los Leones are winless in their last eight H2Hs in La Liga (D1, L7). But San Mames forms a perfect backdrop to end that barren run, with Bilbao winning an impressive ten consecutive home matches on home turf in the build-up to this fixture.

Visiting Barcelona will have to be at their best to become the first side to win at San Mames since August and end Bilbao’s outrageous 12-game unbeaten home league form (W10, D2). Xavi Hernandez’s men seem well-placed to achieve just that after winning their last four away league matches despite failing to keep a clean sheet on each occasion. The Blaugrana’s free-scoring frontline has been a source of joy for Xavi as they proved their credentials with a thumping 4-0 home win against Getafe last weekend. Barcelona’s recent fortunes in the Basque Country can only inspire more confidence, with the Catalans unbeaten on their 14 previous visits to face teams from this region (W11, D3).