Lliga: Bilbao - Barca 2-5

[Barcaman]

La Liga round 22

-

Sunday, 8th of February, 21:00
Ref: Lahoz

Barca are coming in good form at Basque country to face Athletic Bilbao at new San Mames

This season Barca already beaten the Basques 2-0 with Neymar scoring both goals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RvLP-sFRNY

Los Leones are struggling at new San Mames as they haven't won at home since November and league round 12. They are going strong in Copa del Rey though and are possible candidates to face Barcelona in final should they beat Espanyol in the semis.

Last season, under Tata, we lost there 1-0. But before that defeat Barca were unbeaten for 6 seasons. Ever since Frank Rijkaard was in charge.

Trivia:

Athletic Bilbao are known as Los Leones (The Lions) because their stadium was built near a church called San Mamés (Saint Mammes). Mammes was a semi-legendary early Christian thrown to the lions by the Romans. Mammes pacified the lions and was later made a saint.

 

[pacp_96]

Hopefully Sevilla can do us a favor tonight.

 

[Barcaman]

Nah. You'll know they'll get a dodgy penalty if things get too close.
Just check the stats for those since uncle Flo took over.

I'm just hoping for a good game from our team and let other results happen anyway they will.

 

[Icarium]

Don't expect sevilla to get some points from real. Sevilla are not that great and recently they are playing bad. They were very lucky to win against espanyol at home. Maybe Real will lose some points against atletico. Let us not worry about real madrid though, we need to keep winning matches to be in title race. Either thumping opponents or grinding vicotories doesn't matter. We just can't lose at this point at least until clasico.

Bravo
Alves Pique Bartra Adriano
Xavi Masch Rakitic
Messi Suarez Neymar

 

[Barcadub]

I am at ease abit since they are having a pretty woeful season bar the Copa. It's not an easy place to go.

The Barca players have 2 days off this week so should be well rested and ready to go.

 

[Flavia]

It's never an easy game. Good thing they'll be well rested, although Neymar and Pique are going to qatar today, to attend a sponsor event tomorrow...

 

[linetty]

Rather 2 players for a sponsoring event than the whole squad for a 90 mins match.

 

[André]

Damn, it's going to be tough, I hope we win. If we win, we can make a great run of wins. It would be 9 W in the last 9 games, and after San Mames we will play Villareal (Copa), Levante and Malaga at home, all 100% win games. Then the City game. in La Liga would be Levante and Malaga home, Granada away, Rayo home, Eibar away and Madrid home. Easy games until the Clasico, we must treat the game vs Bilbao like a final.

 

[Leo_Messi]

Athletic away is always one of the most difficult away games in the league.

Iraola is suspended for the match while Iturraspe is out injured.

Look out for Susaeta. Despite Athletic being poor this season (especially offensively as they have only managed to score 18 goals in 21 matches) then he has provided 6 assists so far. He is one of the most clever players in the league without the ball. He has some deadly movements.

He along with Muniain and a revived Aduriz are guaranteed starters on Sunday night.

In the past 10 league games in San Mamés FCB has only managed to win 3 of them, draw 5 of them and lose 2 of them. So it's fair to say that it will be difficult.

The weather is also going to play a role. Apparently it's going to be cold and rainy in Bilbao. As usual in this time of the year.

The strongest lineup should be used. Not the time for rotations. Especially as RM are certain to win the derby Saturday.

 

[hardyboy]

We should field our strongest XI in both the upcoming games. We can rest players against Levante.

 

[linetty]

Of course we should be fielding the strongest XI

It's not like we've been doing all these rotations without a reason

 

[KingMessi]

I'd like to see:

Bravo
Alves-Pique-Mascherano-Alba
Rakitic-Busquets-Iniesta
Messi-Suarez-Neymar

 

[André]

The team will be as usual, my only concern is who will be the second CB. Don't think Masche will play this, he needs some rest. Bartra/Mathieu then.

 

[Antimadridista1]

Hope that Atleti will beat Real Madrid . Sevilla always bend over at the Bernabeu, nothing new -> We shouldn't expect anything from them but a loss.

Concerning the game at San Mames, it will be really tough (as always) but we are going there in a good form and they certainly aren't as good as last season.
I expect a close win (1- 2 or 0-1). The good thing is that our players will be well rested.
I would like to see this eleven starting the game :

Bravo
Dani - Pique - Mathieu - Alba
Rakitic - Jefecito - Iniesta
Leo - Luisito - Ney

Bench : TS, Adriano, Bartra, Busi, Xavi, Rafinha, Pedro.

 

[Flavia]

@AthleticClub 5 hHá 5 horas
Nieve en San Mamés (snow in san mames)

@AthleticClub · 4 h Há 4 horas
La nieve es muy bonita pero hay que cuidar el césped (the snow is very pretty, but we have to take care of the pitch)