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Attendance: 47,693
Athletic Bilbao logo
La Liga | Gameweek 1
Aug 16, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
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Aduriz (89')
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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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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
3Real Madrid1283125111427
4Villarreal127322319424
5GironaGirona146352018221
6Mallorca146351312121
7Osasuna136341720-321
8Athletic Bilbao135531913620
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad135351110118
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


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