Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Athletic Bilbao play host to Barcelona at the New San Mames just three days after being on the receiving end of a 6-0 humbling.
Although the makeup of both teams will be changed slightly for this Copa del Rey tie, the mental edge is clearly with the visitors.
Ernesto Valverde has work to do if he is to inspire his troops to another win against the Blaugrana, one akin to the sensational performance at the start of the campaign which saw Athletic beat Barca to win the Spanish Super Cup—their first trophy in over 30 years.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
His case will be strengthened in the knowledge that Luis Suarez is unavailable and that Lionel Messi will be rested for this first leg, per Javier Miguel of Sport.
Miguel wrote:
"They (the club) don’t want to take risks with the Argentine, which was behind the reason to take him off at half time on Sunday, with Arda Turan coming on in his place.
No risks will be taken on Wednesday, then, with Messi resting as a form of precaution.
"
If that wasn't good enough news for Bilbao, who can count upon the return of talisman Aritz Arduriz up front, Barca also have big problems in defence.
Miguel also notes in Sport that both Jordi Alba and Jeremy Mathieu are missing from the lineup meaning that Luis Enrique has only an unfit and out-of-form Adriano Correia to call upon as a natural left-back.
And Lucho knows it will be an entirely different game this time, telling reporters in his pre-match briefing per FCBarcelona.com:
"We're used to playing in hostile environments. The game tomorrow is going to be very different than the one Sunday at Camp Nou.
No two games are the same.
[...] They (Athletic) can use the last game as an incentive. Aduriz is going to be fresh as are their other players who did not participate on Sunday.
[...] The more heated the atmosphere in San Mames, the more we need to turn it around for us.
"
The hosts are sure to be more competitive in this match, after the third-minute sending-off of goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz in the La Liga fixture determined their fate at the weekend.
An understrength Barca will need to be at their very best to retain the advantage going into next week's second leg.
Date: Wednesday, January 20
Time: 8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET
Venue: New San Mames, Bilbao, Spain
TV Info: Not available in UK / beIN Sports 1 (US only)
Live Stream: beIN Sports Connect (US only), LaLigaTV La Copa YouTube channel (Pay Per View)
Form Lines
Predicted Formations
The hosts will have an attacking 4-2-3-1 to combat an expected onslaught from their visitors, and as long as there are no more rash red cards dished out in the opening exchanges, Athletic will be more than a match for the Catalans.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen needs to be on his mettle here. He'll not need reminding of what happened to him on his last visit.
Aduriz will lead the line against a side for whom he scored a hat-trick at this venue earlier in the season. How he and his colleagues would love for him to replicate such prowess here, giving Los Leones the advantage before a difficult second leg at Camp Nou.
Gerard Pique has to improve his concentration in the opening moments. As he showed in the league game, he is developing an annoying habit of gifting the initiative to the opponents in dangerous situations and areas of the pitch.
It won't be long before one of them takes advantage.
Javier Mascherano will again partner Pique but needs to stop accruing needless yellow cards, something that will hurt Barca if they progress in the competition.
Iker Muniain was crestfallen at his early withdrawal at the weekend so will be champing at the bit to get at Dani Alves at every opportunity.
The Brazilian will aim to unsettle his opposite number by marauding upfield at every opportunity and exchanging pinpoint passes with Ivan Rakitic and Aleix Vidal in a powerful and pacy Blaugrana right side.
Sergio Busquets has Eraso to deal with centrally but may drift over to the left throughout proceedings in order to help out Sergi Roberto in an unfamiliar left-back role.
Inaki Williams will be feasting at every opportunity and has the pace to outrun both Roberto and any covering colleagues.
Benat Etxebarria and Mikel San Jose form a familiar central-midfield partnership, but as was shown in the league game, they're not a match for Rakitic and Andres Iniesta if both are allowed time and space with which to deliver to their front men.
The makeup of Barca's front line will be unlike any other fixture one would imagine.
Neymar in a centre-forward role with Arda Turan up top alongside Vidal, to provide brawn as well as brains in that area of the pitch. Munir El Haddadi might be a more obvious attacking choice but doesn't have the physicality of the Turkish international, which will surely be an advantage here.
Iraizoz returns in goal with a back four as last time—Mikel Balenziaga, Aymeric Laporte, Xabier Etxeita and Eneko Boveda.
Player to Watch
Although he probably wouldn't have been able to change the outcome of the league match, Aduriz was nevertheless sorely missed.
At 34 years of age, the striker should be seeing out his playing days at a lower level, but the fact is Aduriz is maturing like a fine wine.
His presence is the outlet for Athletic's long ball game and his hold-up play is peerless and manna from heaven for his colleagues.
Aduriz isn't a bully, but he is a physical, old-school centre-forward and won't be intimidated in the heat of battle.
Moreover, his superior movement will drag Barca's central defenders away from their natural sentry allowing the likes of Muniain and Williams to exploit the space left behind.
In short, his presence for Los Leones is a game-changer.
Key Battle
Roberto came to Enrique's rescue yet again at the weekend.
With Alba unable to continue, Roberto was shoved into the breach at left-back.
That he took on yet another role with some aplomb shows that he is quickly becoming Barca's utility man par excellence.
Although he doesn't have anything like the speed of Alba—which may benefit Athletic's Williams—nor the positional sense, what he lacks he more than makes up for with desire and purpose.
Quite clearly the youngster isn't going to pass up this particular chance to stake his claims for permanent residency in the side.
Williams might well send him back to school in this one in mind. You certainly don't want to be up against a player of his calibre in a role unfamiliar to you.
Athletic's prodigal son has searing pace to burn and a decent finish if given the opportunity.
The best Roberto might be able to manage is to stay touch-tight as often as practicable throughout and stop Williams from getting a run on him.
Odds
Athletic Bilbao win 4-1
Barcelona win 5-6
Draw 3-1
Pre-match odds courtesy of Oddschecker.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
