Barcelona vs. Athletic Bilbao: How Barca Will Line Up in La Liga Game

Barcelona vs. Athletic Bilbao is one of the games in the La Liga calendar that just about everyone looks forward to.

Given the history of the fixture and the Catalonia vs. Euskadi undertones, both sets of supporters enjoy a friendly if competitive rivalry and it's not unheard of for players of either side to decorate themselves in flags of the others' region, such is the mutual respect between the two.

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Ernesto Valverde's side come into the game hoping that Barca's poor form in the early Saturday kick offs continue, after some quite disastrous performances from the Blaugrana last season.

The benefit of an international break for Lionel Messi in particular should see the Catalans firing on all cylinders come kick-off time and as the only side in the league with a 100 percent record after just two games, Luis Enrique will want to extend the lead at the top of the table.

In 27 matches over the last 10 years in all competitions, Athletic have only won twice per Fussball Wettpoint, and both have been at San Mames.

However, Athletic will provide a stern test as always. Players such as Iker Muniain, Ibai Gomez and Aymeric Laporte continue to demonstrate a high-quality work ethic so Barca need to be on their guard against complacency.

In Aritz Aduriz, Bilbao possess a genuine threat up front and Benat is the creator supreme when in the right mindset.

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Claudio Bravo will continue to deputise in goal whilst Marc-Andre ter Stegen recovers from his back injury.

Dani Alves and Jordi Alba will have to temper their wanderlust with some defensive work as both Muniain and Gomez raid the flanks.

Gerard Pique has enjoyed two weeks of rest after being ruled out of Spain's internationals because of "hip discomfort" per Dermot Corrigan of WhoScored.com.

It will be interesting to see if Enrique utilises the services of a defender who has been a mainstay in the squad over the last few years. Corrigan notes that, despite popular belief, Pique's level hasn't actually dropped to the level some insist:

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Through the 2013/14 La Liga campaign the Catalan played 26 times, with 2.1 tackles per game, 2 interceptions and 5.5 clearances. In 2012/13 Liga the averages were 1.8 tackles, 2.2 interceptions and 4.5 clearances. Back another year and the figures were 1.5 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 2.4 clearances. In 2010/11 the tackle count was 1.7 per game, with interceptions at 1.9 and clearances at 3.7.

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On the basis that Pique will start, who will partner him is in the balance at this stage. The effective Jeremy Mathieu could've expected to have kept his place until a training injury on Wednesday.

The ex-Valencia stalwart has been impressive since his arrival in Catalonia and there is nothing to suggest anything other than a permanent residency for Mathieu at this stage.

However, for this game, Luis Enrique may decide to allow him some recuperation time resulting in either a start for Marc Bartra or the fit-again Thomas Vermaelen.

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Andres Iniesta has recovered from his injury to lead the team once again and alongside the equally dynamic Ivan Rakitic, both should have more than enough in the locker to keep Mikel Rico and Ander Iturraspe from surging forward to support the Bilbao attack.

Something they have managed to do with great aplomb so far this season.

Perhaps Enrique's biggest conundrum falls in defensive midfield. Javier Mascherano has done little wrong but may still be benched in favour of Sergio Busquets. It wouldn't really come as too much of a surprise if the manager opted to give the Spaniard a day off, preferring the Argentine on this occasion.

If Messi stations himself out on the right as expected, then Mikel Balenziaga has a problem. Never too far from his centre-back Aymeric Laporte, he tracks Messi's movement at his peril.

Laporte should have more than enough about him to contain the exciting but inexperienced Munir, yet will not want to remove himself too far from his central position. In so doing, Munir's cobra-like anticipation and speed from a standing start will pay dividends.

Neymar should complete the starting XI in his usual left-sided berth but will need to be at his best against a superbly well marshaled Oscar de Marcos.

This one has all of the hallmarks of an early-season classic. Vamos!