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La Liga Preview: Atheltic Bilbao - Barcelona

The Blaugrana head into a huge week in their season looking to maintain their slender lead at the top of the Primera Division table...

Nov 20, 2009 10:31:27 AM

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Henry, Barcelona-Valencia (Marca)

Teams

Kick-off: Saturday Nov 21, 2009. 22:00 CET
San Mames, Bilbao

Mind Games

Several Athletic Bilbao players have come out this week lauding the qualities of Barcelona going into this weekend's game. In a way it is refreshingly realistic to hear a team admit to their inferiority in terms of ability, and their humble attitude could serve them well on Saturday.

Usually lesser teams declare that they will hold no fears against Barca, claiming that if they play to their strengths they can give the champions a run for their money. They then capitulate over the 90 minutes.

Whether the midweek words of praise for the champions are mind games or not, the Basque outfit will need to be at their very best to get anything from this game, let alone beat Barcelona.

In their last ten Primera Liga meetings at San Mames, Bilbao have won just two. In addition, they have suffered comprehensive defeats in the Supercopa de Espana and last season's Copa del Rey. Realistically, the players' admissions are spot on and anything short of 100 per cent commitment and concentration will surely result in a defeat for Los Leones.

Time To Deliver

Pep Guardiola will no doubt warn his players not to fall into the trap of believing that the three points are in the bag before they even arrive in the Basque country.

This is the beginning of a big week in Barcelona's season and the trophy-laden Blaugrana will need to demonstrate all their championship pedigree over the next eight days to maintain the defence of their treble crown.

The coach will have one eye on Tuesday's all-important Champions League tie with Inter and must decide whether to field his strongest possible line-up now in order to maintain their slender lead at the top of the table going into 'El Clasico' or prioritise three points against the Italians in order to preserve their Champions League status.

With the pressure on it's time to deliver some big results and show why Barca are regarded as the best team in the world. They are probably a little fortunate that Bilbao lack a real goal threat going into this game, so this should prove an ideal opportunity to build some momentum after the international break.

FORM GUIDE

Athletic Bilbao

Nov 11 Athletic Bilbao 2-2 Rayo Vallecano (Copa del Rey)

Nov 8 Racing Santander 0-2 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)

Nov 5 Nacional 1-1 Athletic Bilbao (Europa League)

Oct 31 Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Atletico Madrid (La Liga)

Oct 28 Rayo Vallecano 2-0 Athletic Bilbao (Copa del Rey)

Barcelona

Nov 10 Barcelona 5-0 Cultural Leonesa (Copa del Rey)

Nov 7 Barcelona 4-2 Mallorca (La Liga)

Nov 4 Rubin Kazan 0-0 Barcelona (UEFA Champions League)

Oct 31 Osasuna 1-1 Barcelona (La Liga)

Oct 28 Cultural Leonesa 0-2 Barcelona (Copa del Rey)

TEAM NEWS

Athletic Bilbao

Joaquin Caparros is without injured starlet Iker Muniain, as well as Fernando Llorente and Toquero. Ion Velez may come in to partner Joseba Etxeberria up front. Fran Yeste and Ander Iturraspe are back in training but may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Iraizoz – Iraola, Etxeita, Amorebieta, Koikili – Susaeta, Javi Martinez, Orbaiz, De Marcos – Etxeberria, Velez.

Barcelona

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is unlikely to feature. Seydou Keita may be rested after injuring his knee last tine out against Mallorca. Eric Abidal is out with a thigh injury.

Probable Starting XI (4-3-3): Valdes – Alves, Pique, Chygrynskiy, Maxwell – Toure, Xavi, Busquets – Messi, Henry, Iniesta

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Athletic Bilbao

With their regular strike force absent through injury, Bilbao may have to rely on a set piece to find the net against the champions. If so, Javi Martinez is the man to deliver the goods.

Barcelona

Fresh from his midweek handball controversy, eyes will be fixed on Thierry Henry. He should deputise for Ibrahimovic in his preferred central striking role.

PREDICTION

With the top goal scorers on either side out through injury, there should be few goals in this tie. It's difficult to see where Bilbao will score from, so Barca shouldn't have much trouble claiming all three points.

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Barcelona

Paul Madden, Goal.com

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