Match Preview FC Barcelona – Athletic Club

Match Preview: FC Barcelona – Athletic Club
Posted at: 04:00 on Saturday, September 13, 2014 Category: Matches, News Written by: SaviMarquez
Match Preview: FC Barcelona – Athletic Club

Barcelona play host to Athletic Club this weekend, and Luis Enrique will be looking to maintain his 100% Liga record in the third match of the league season, and the second at the Camp Nou. Athletic Club have not managed a win in Barcelona since the 2001-02 season, but certainly Ernesto Valverde’s team has enough quality to hurt Barça if the Blaugranas lose focus at any point.

Athletic Club seem like they have completely recovered from the disastrous end to Marcelo Bielsa’s era in 2012-13. El Loco’s departure left behind a squad that was internally divided, but Ernesto Valverde’s appointment as coach has made the Basques forget about the man who guided the club to the UEFA Europa League final in 2012. Txingurri (ant) managed to get the best out of his players last year, guiding the club to an unexpected 4th place finish, after a campaign that included a 1-0 victory over Barcelona at the San Mamés Barria.

Last year’s success has not deprived Los Leones of their best assets, although midfield metronome Ander Herrera finally completed his transfer to Manchester United. The Basques played it safe during the summer’s transfer window, making just one signing from outside by grabbing the Liga Adelante’s top scorer Borja Viguera from Deportivo Alavés. Youngsters Guarrotxena, Arrizabalaga, Aketxe, Unai López and Bustinza have been the other signings after getting promoted. The core of the side that won 4th place last year is still there, and by beating Napoli in the Champions League playoffs the Lions proved that even when they are considered the underdogs, they can cause upsets. They have had a mixed start to the league this year, losing 1-0 to Malaga in the season’s curtain raiser, and then comfortably beating Levante 3-0 in Bilbao before the international break

So, what do Barça need to beat Ernesto Valverde’s squad? Simply have focus throughout the ninety minutes. it will be very easy for players to switch off, given that the atmosphere will be festive with celebrations for the Tricentenari and the two teams wearing kits inspired by the flags of their autonomous regions in an exhibition of Catalan and Basque pride. Bilbao have players who can punish every mistake, every lapse in concentration, so Barça players have to be alert in order to gain full benefit of the result of the Madrid Derby.

Team news

FC Barcelona

Luis Enrique knows for sure that Jordi Masip won’t be available, as the goalkeeper is recovering from a fractured finger. Lucho is sweating over the fitness of a number of players, as Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta and Jéremy Mathieu are yet to be cleared to play, despite training normally on Friday. The match squad has not been announced yet, but logic says that all three will make the squad. Thomas Vermaelen also has some chances of making the cut. Marc-André Ter Stegen is back from his back injury and has chances of starting, although Bravo still holds the advantage. We might also see Adriano making a welcome return to action following his heart problems. Munir and Sandro are still with the seniors and are both in for some valuable playing time.

Predicted lineup: Bravo, Dani Alves, Piqué, Mathieu, Alba, Busquets, Rakitić, Iniesta, Messi, Munir, Neymar.

Athletic Club

Ernesto Valverde has the entire squad fit for the trip to Barcelona, but it remains to be seen how the Basque tactician lines up his team on the Camp Nou turf, as the club has a potentially decisive Champions League group stage tie against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. Valverde has announced his match squad for the match, and that includes all of his stars, so logic states that he will most likely go for the team that beat Levante two weeks ago. Of course, the team that secured them a Champions League ticket at the expense of Napoli is also an option. The difference between the two? Markel Susaeta or Ibai Gómez? The more defensively responsible Susaeta holds an advantage.

Predicted lineup: Iraizoz, De Marcos, Laporte, Gurpegi, Balenziaga, Mikel Rico, Iturraspe, Muniaín, Susaeta, Beñat, Aduriz.

Match squad: Iraizoz, Laporte, San José, Beñat, Iturraspe, De Marcos, Ibai, Iago Herrerín, Susaeta, Iraola, X.Etxeita, Mikel Rico, Gurpegi, Muniain, Aduriz, Viguera, Guillermo, Balenziaga and Unai López.

SOURCE