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
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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
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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
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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.
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.
Shane Callaghan
