The San Mames is the stage for this highly-anticipated encounter in the Spanish top flight as Athletic Club plays host to FC Barcelona this weekend. Read on for our expert tips and predictions.

The now-departed Leo Messi netted a brace last time both sides clashed on this ground in a 3-2 win for the Catalans. Who picks up maximum points this time around?

Highly-anticipated encounter on the cards

Athletic Club didn’t have the best 2020/2021 season with the Basque club finishing just in the top half of the standings with 46 points after 38 league games. Given their transfer window activity, it is pretty much the same players who would be looking to push the club up the table this time around. In their first game of the new campaign, they picked up a solitary point in a goalless draw away at Elche. With the Catalans eyed to be an even tougher test, it is then left to see how well Marcelinos’s troops would perform.

Barcelona opened their account with a brilliant 4-2 victory at home against Real Sociedad. The Catalans, with their new-look outfit, performed quite well with Pique, Braithwaite and Roberto netting in their inaugural game of the season. Barcelona picked up only the Copa Del Rey last season, defeating this Saturday’s opponents in a 4-0 victory. Would they be able to pick up yet another victory against the Basque outfit?

Bilbao vs Barcelona Team News

Bilbao possible starting XI:

Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Alvarez, Martinez, Balenziaga; Berenguer, D Garcia, Vencedor, Muniain; Sancet, Williams

Barcelona possible starting XI:

Neto; Dest, Pique, E Garcia, Alba; Pedri, Busquets, De Jong; Braithwaite, Memphis, Griezmann

Athletic Club vs Barcelona Prediction: 1-2

Although we expect this to be a tougher task for the Catalans compared to their home game against Sociedad, we find it hard betting against Koeman’s side who should pick up a hard-fought victory.