FC Barcelona are set to take on Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish La Liga game on Saturday night, 28th October 2017 at San Memes Stadium. Barcelona can stretch their lead at top of the league and continue their absolute beast form so far this season with yet another win which will take them to 28 Points in 10 matches, Bilbao are anything but pushovers, specially playing at home. The game will kickoff at around 20:45 CET / 19:45 uk time and we will have live links as well as match highlights right here on this page.
Match Highlights
Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona – Match Highlights
Spanish La Liga 2017-18 Season
Date: Saturday, 28 October 2017 – Kickoff: 20:45 CET / 19:45 UK Time
Venue: San Meme Stadium
Highlights: Match highlights for the first leg will be available after the game at around 15:15 uk time. So check back after the game for extended highlights.
Team News & Lineups: Athletic Bilbao will be without the services of Aritz Arduriz who was the star player when Athletic Bilbao defeated Barcelona 4-0 earlier in the season but his omission is likely to trigger some positive changes with Sabin Merino leading the forward line alongside highly rated Iker Munian and Inaki Williams. The trio can make all sorts of problems for Barcelona if Athletic defense can hold off Barcelona attacking trio.
Neymar, Messi and Suarez will start while Arda Turan is set to start in place of Ivan Rakitic alongside Iniesta and Sergio Busquest in midfield. Regular back four of Pique, Mascherano, Dani Alves and Jordi Alba with Claudio Bravo set to keep his place in goal. This is how I expect both teams to lineup on Sunday night.
Valverde’s Athletic Bilbao are a difficult team to break down and Barcelona found it first hand in the first leg when they frustrated Barcelona and actually took a 2 goal lead. However a late Lionel Messi goal gave Barcelona away goal which means Luis Enrique side can qualify with 1-0 win.
Earlier Matches Results: FC Barcelona took on Athletico Bilbao in the quart final first leg of Copa Del Rey on Wednesday night, 20th January 2016. Lionel Messi was withdrawn from the squad and Munir El Haddadi started and scored the opening goal in 18th minute while Neymar added the second in 25th minute to make it 2-0 Barcelona. Barcelona looked to have see off the challenge but a late goal from Aritz Aduriz made it 2-1 and kept the tie alive.
FC Barcelona 3-1 Athletic Bilbao Highlights
[ Spanish Copa Del Rey 2017 Round of 16 – 2nd Leg ]
36′ 1 – 0 Luis Suarez scored with a superb finished to make it 1-0 for Barcelona in 36th minute. With that goal Barcelona now lead the tie and Bilbao had to score to get infront on aggregate.
47′ 2 – 0 Neymar scored from penalty spot just after the break to make it 2-0.
51′ 2 – 1 Enric Saborit scored the crucial away goal for Bilbao to bring them back into the game.
77′ 3 – 1 Lionel Messi scores late in second half to secure Barcelona’s passage to next round of Copa Del Rey.
Barcelona arranged Lionel Messi’s fifth Ballon d’Or presentation before the kickoff as whole stadium applauded and it did not take long for him to register first blood through penalty.