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Attendance: 47,693
Athletic Bilbao logo
La Liga | Gameweek 1
Aug 16, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
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1-0

Aduriz (89')
FT(HT: 0-0)

How Barcelona could line up against Bilbao

Sports Mole looks at how Barcelona could line up in Friday night's La Liga opener against Athletic Bilbao.

Barcelona will begin the defence of their La Liga crown with a trip to Athletic Bilbao on Friday night.

Ernesto Valverde's side finished 11 points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top of the table last season, and the Catalan giants are once again expected to be the team to beat during the 2019-20 campaign.

Barca have won four of their five pre-season games this summer - including an impressive 4-0 victory over Napoli last time out, where Luis Suarez, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann were all on the scoresheet.

It is a tough start against a dangerous Bilbao outfit, although the Basque side have not overcome Barca in a home La Liga match since 2013, which is an indication of the size of their task on Friday night.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Barca could line up at San Mames.


POSS BAR XI vs. BIL

Out: Neto (wrist)
Doubtful: Lionel Messi (calf)

Lionel Messi has not officially been ruled out of the match by Valverde, but it seems incredibly unlikely that the attacker will take part due to a calf injury. The 32-year-old has not been involved in Barca's pre-season preparations after turning out for Argentina in the Copa America during the summer.

Messi's expected absence could see Dembele and Griezmann join Luis Suarez in the final third of the field, with all three impressing against Napoli last time out.

The back four and goalkeeper largely picks itself with Clement Lenglet now very much Gerard Pique's preferred partner, and therefore perhaps the most interesting aspect of the team selection will come in midfield.

Summer arrival Frenkie de Jong is widely being tipped to start alongside Sergio Busquets, with Sergi Roberto's energy potentially seeing the Spaniard get the nod ahead of the likes of Ivan Rakitic and Arturo Vidal. Arthur is another option for the middle of the park, meanwhile.

Barca's only other confirmed absentee is second-choice goalkeeper Neto, who has broken a bone in his wrist and now faces a period on the sidelines.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona12110140112933
2Real Madrid1173121111024
3Atletico MadridAtletico126511871123
4Villarreal116322019121
5Osasuna126331716121
6Athletic Bilbao125431812619
7Real BetisBetis125431210219
8Mallorca12534109118
9Rayo Vallecano114431210216
10Celta Vigo125161820-216
11Real Sociedad124351010015
12GironaGirona124351517-215
13Sevilla124351217-515
14AlavesAlaves124171419-513
15Leganes122551216-411
16Getafe12174810-210
17Espanyol123181122-1110
18Las PalmasLas Palmas122371321-89
19Real ValladolidValladolid12228924-158
20Valencia11146817-97


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
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