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Athletic Bilbao logo
La Liga
Feb 8, 2015 at 8pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

2-5

Rico (59'), Aduriz (66')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Messi (15'), Suarez (26'), De Marcos (62'), Neymar (64'), Pedro (86')

Preview: Athletic Bilbao vs. Barcelona

Sports Mole previews the match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona in La Liga.

Barcelona will be looking to record their ninth consecutive win in all competitions when they travel to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday night.

The Catalan giants have netted 29 goals during a rich vein of form which has seen them maintain pace with Real Madrid in the La Liga table as well as seeing off the challenge of Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey.

Luis Enrique's team had to dig deep to edge out Villarreal at Camp Nou last weekend, but the club's coach would have been delighted to have witnessed his side show impressive resilience for the second time in the space of four days.

The starting lineup is unlikely to be altered for the trip to Bilbao, with Enrique hoping that Luis Suarez can break his current four-game run without a goal.

Bilbao welcome Barca having recovered from a dismal run of results that had seen them fall to five defeats in six matches.

However, since January 21, Los Leones have won twice and drawn twice to improve their fortunes in both league and cup, conceding just one goal during the same period.

Goals at the other end of the pitch remain a problem though, and manager Ernesto Valverde will be hoping that Aritz Aduriz can continue his improvement in front of goal after previously scoring just twice in 13 games.

Valverde could include Xabier Etxeita in his defence, with Andoni Iraola having to sit out the match through suspension.

Athletic Bilbao:

Form in La Liga: LLLLDW
Form in all competitions: LLDDWW

Possible starting lineup: Iraizoz, Etxeita, Balenziaga, Laporte, Gurpegi, Iturraspe, Mikel Rico, Aduriz, Muniain, De Marcos, Unai Lopez

Barcelona:

Form in La Liga: WLWWWW
Form in all competitions: WWWWWW

Possible starting lineup: Bravo; Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Alba; Busquets, Rafinha, Iniesta; Neymar, Suarez, Messi

Sports Mole says: 1-4


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Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League group B football match Real Madrid CF vs Liverpool FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on November 4, 2014
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rhs 2.0
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


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