Athletic Bilbao vs. Barsa

The toughest test yet?

Also, anyone else noticed the level of respect Guardiola and Bielsa have for each other?

Pep: Bielsa is a unique manager, one I would've wished to work with.

Bielsa: Pep is revolutionary and countercultural.

`Some Stats:

~ @FCBarcelona Record vs Bilbao (Away): 83matches ( 23W, 18D, 42L) scored 119 goals & conceded 160.

‎~ #Messi record vs Athletic Bilbao: 13 matches (9W, 4D, 0L) scored 7 goals & provided 2 assists.
- Messi has yet to score in San Mamis, played 4 matches & couldn't score.

============

`Squad that will travel to the Basque:

All first-team players except Pedro & Afellay (19 players) + Cuenca.

I cant say im fully confident, its dark waters here... Bilbao at home have become as difficult maybe even more then Valencia, Espagnol (for Barca).. and ofc they got one of the most intelligent coaches in the world as he is also a perfectionist... many records on the line and more importantly, were in 2nd place.. 1 point second place is great, its less pressure then being 1st and not want to loose points for a whole season, we all know Classico will settle it anyways, but i mean we should not start to bleed points as it could (god forbid) hunt us in the future... i still see a scoreline of Bilbao 0-2 Barca. Visca Barca.

As Pep said, we will do well to win.

I will take any sort of win, regardless of performance. Bilbao have always worried me.

Bilbao is always one of the best fixtures of the season, 2nd only to Classico in my opinion. Great atmosphere, always great competition... going to be a great match.

Does anyone think Sanchez will start? My guess is he won't... but he was excellent off the bench the other day and we have been lacking a bit up front. Xavi and Iniesta nicely rested up. It will also be interesting to see who plays at the back.

I think it could be something like this...

El Classico is overrated.

The best matches are the ones with the teams who possess sheer mutual respect and understanding of each others principles and philosophies.

Plus the San Mames is the only venue (along with the Anoeta) where Barca players seem to have the slightest bit of fear in their eyes.

Here is what I would put up:

4-2-3-1

Iraola-San Jose-Amorbietta-Koikili

Javi-Gerpegui

Gabilondo-Ander-Iker Munian the little genius

Llorente the Lion

Bielsa does not have a standard and rigid formation as expect the formation to consistently vary based on many factors.

Gora Euskadi!!

Kizz could you stop editing my titles lol? It's not Barca, it's Barça, and a more accurate spelling is Barsa since that is closer to what it sounds like. You would figure this is not a problem, but I've met yet another American who pronounces it as BarCa, so I'm taking proactive steps to make sure everyone knows how to pronounce it

Yes very important and tough game coming up. If Iniesta doesn't start I will be so disappointed that in spite of it's importance I may not even watch it properly.

If Keita starts this will be a draw. Hopefully we will see Xaviesta plus Busquets in midfield. Tough game. 1-2 is my prediction if we start without Keita, 1-1 with the best human that Pep ever met in starting line-up

Hopefully if Keita plays he will shut me up, score a goal and celebrate like this

If I see Keita from start, Im not watching the game..... -.-

If there is any game Barca could drop points it is here. Going to be a tough game.

last year barca were lucky to go away with a draw,its a true calderon

It is going to be a tough game. Hopefully we see some nice football and we win this one. I feel it is the most important game after el Classico.

Official:
`Line-up: Valdés, Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Abidal, Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Adriano, Messi y Cesc

`Bench: Pinto, Maxwell, Puyol, Keita, Thiago, Alexis y Villa.

Well we did drop points, and these are goign to add up.

Besides, watch Bilbao yield to madrid like little dogs when they play them. they won't have any heart against madrid...just like espanyol

Espaniol, Athletico, you name it. But that is not the point. They played an awesome game. Though id like us to win, i enjoyed this game a lot. Nice display by Athleti but i could not understand Pep not playing Villa or Sanchez from begining

Grrrrrrr....frustrating match.... atleast Leo saved us a point... But it must be said that our first half of the season has pretty much all the "harder" matches being played away from home, Things should look more colorful second half.

shinigami99 wrote:Well we did drop points, and these are goign to add up.

Besides, watch Bilbao yield to madrid like little dogs when they play them. they won't have any heart against madrid...just like espanyol

Don't agree. Bilbao aint asspanyol, Bilbao actually has a rivarly with real madrid and IIRC they defeated real madrid 2 ago at home, while espanyol has not even scored against real madrid for... I can't remember how many games... And with Bielsa in charge...

shinigami99 wrote:Well we did drop points, and these are goign to add up.

Besides, watch Bilbao yield to madrid like little dogs when they play them. they won't have any heart against madrid...just like espanyol

Do you even watch Spanish football?.

Bilbao hate us much more than they hate Barca.

Messi is class. This player is amazing not barca in my opinion.
Any team would be lucky to have him

harhar11 wrote:

shinigami99 wrote:Well we did drop points, and these are goign to add up.

Besides, watch Bilbao yield to madrid like little dogs when they play them. they won't have any heart against madrid...just like espanyol

Don't agree. Bilbao aint asspanyol, Bilbao actually has a rivarly with real madrid and IIRC they defeated real madrid 2 ago at home, while espanyol has not even scored against real madrid for... I can't remember how many games... And with Bielsa in charge...

This basically

Madrid are very unlucky to be playing Bilbao after they have already adapted to Bielsa. I do expect them to put up a fight as well.

Also, let's not stress about Madrid yet. They'll lose points eventually, we have yet to lose a game (thanks to Leo, today).

This is a tough fixture and getting a point out of it is great. I am very confident we will retain the league this year.

kiranr wrote:This is a tough fixture and getting a point out of it is great. I am very confident we will retain the league this year.

I am also confident you wont, not La Liga. I will reserve giving any opinions on the CL though cause that's another story.

All La Liga teams as a whole got some sort of vaccination against your team's play. Barca's play has been exploited.

If Messi stays in this hot form then anything is possible, but i wouldnt hold my breath on that possibility.

I can guarantee you one thing though, Real Madrid are not afraid of Barca anymore (the players i mean). They are eager to encouter you, anytime anywhere. Doesnt matter whether its at the Camp Nou or Bernabeu.

Things have changed from last season. But anything can happen.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Madrid are very unlucky to be playing Bilbao after they have already adapted to Bielsa. I do expect them to put up a fight as well.

Also, let's not stress about Madrid yet. They'll lose points eventually, we have yet to lose a game (thanks to Leo, today).

Luck has nothing to do with Madrid this season, Cosmo. If anything, they re unlucky because of all the injuries that are hitting their first team players.

I sense harmony, agreement, motivation, hope, belief in the madrid camp. It's not a matter we can do it anymore, it's we will do it.

The way things are going, i disagree with alot of people here, Madrid are not playing their best football yet. Barca on the other hand are giving their best and i expect a dip in form. Yesterday's game is no surprise, Barca gave it their 100%.

Let's see how the events will unfold.