Athletic Bilbao vs. Barcelona: How Should Luis Enrique's Side Line Up?
Barcelona officially start their treble defence this weekend—travelling to Athletic Bilbao's San Mames Stadium in La Liga's opening matchday.
Luis Enrique's men have already been up-close-and-personal with their Sunday hosts. This year's Spanish Super Cup was played between the two clubs, with Bilbao taking the trophy 5-1 on aggregate, including a 4-0 first-leg victory at home.
Though Barca possess additional motivation to right the wrongs of pre-season, they have been significantly weakened over the past month.
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Neymar will miss the domestic league's commencement as he continues his recovery from mumps. Jordi Alba has hamstring concerns and faces a game-time decision. Adriano has a groin injury, which is likely to keep him out of the first team, and Douglas is doubtful.
Jeremy Mathieu is suspended due to yellow-card accumulation from the 2014/15 season. Gerard Pique was banned four matches for vitriolic dissent during the aforementioned Super Cup, and Pedro completed his move to Chelsea on Thursday
Moreover, neither of Barca's summer signings, Arda Turan nor Aleix Vidal, are available until January—when the Catalans' alleged "transfer ban" is lifted. Thus, it would seem Enrique has a slight selection crisis, not only for his starting XI but the bench as well.
Luckily, Barcelona's five most important players are ready for action.
Javier Mascherano, Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi should feature in Barca's first match of La Liga 2015/16, easing the pressure on the Blaugrana as a whole. Veterans Dani Alves and Andres Iniesta provide further stability, but there are places where inexperience could be exploited.
Sandro Ramirez, who was the third-choice left-winger two weeks ago, could start in his eighth domestic match on Sunday. Pedro's transfer gives the 20-year-old winger an opportunity to stake a claim for more playing time once Neymar returns from illness.
Alba's hamstring injury gives Enrique another conundrum. He could play Thomas Vermaelen at left-back and play Marc Bartra in central defence or play the Belgian at centre-half, giving Barcelona B starlet Alex Grimaldo his first-team debut.
Considering Bilbao's attacking threat (evidenced in pre-season), the Barca manager should opt for pace. If Alba cannot play, Grimaldo—who played 36 games for Barca B in 2014/15, scoring four goals—should be handed his first senior appearance.
Elsewhere, one would expect Claudio Bravo and Marc-Andre ter Stegen to continue their goalkeeping rotation—seeing the former play in La Liga and the latter in cup competitions. The bench will scrounge as many first-team options as can be found, with select youngsters from the youth team sprinkled therein.
As we can see from current affairs in the Premier League, defending one's crown is always more difficult than chasing it.
Three points vs. Athletic Bilbao and the woes of the Super Cup will become a distant memory, but another loss and questions will be asked—no matter how unfair.
Having several players missing in August is never ideal, but what Barcelona currently lack in quantity, they more than make up for in quality. Barca will never be handed victory, but when Enrique pens down names like Suarez, Iniesta and Messi—they instantly become favourites.
As champions, it is a pressure Barcelona understand.
As champions, it is a pressure Barcelona warrant.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.
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