La Liga Preview: Athletic Bilbao v Barcelona

Athletic Bilbao

0 vs 0

Barcelona

Pre Match
November 6, 2011 7:00 PM GMT
Estadio San Mamés — Bilbao

The Catalan giants travel to the Basque country to face Marcelo Bielsa's side in Sunday night La Liga action

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.

• 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.