This must be the most exciting La Liga match of the weekend. The top-ranked team takes on the fifth placed team. The Catalan giants meet the Basque heroes. The contest has no shortage of labels. Barca suffered their first loss in UEFA Champions League in the midweek tie against Ajax. Is this a bad omen? Are they going to suffer their first La Liga loss?

Barcelona have long been regarded as the epitome of team work. Their delightful tiki-taka passing requires more protagonists than normal. But now that myth is in danger of being shattered. The absence of Lionel Messi, and the lack of form of some ageing stalwarts has raised questions about Barca’s supposed all-round efficiency.

This is going to be a good chance for Bilbao to end a years-long win drought. It was in 2006 that Atletic Bilbao last won against Barcelona. They have suffered 13 defeats since then against the Catalan side. The H2H statistics of the last two decades clearly show Barca’s dominance: 29-6.

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In Messi’s absence, it is time Neymar and others in the Argentine Maestro’s shadow showed their worth. Alexis Sánchez can be deadly at the goalmouth. Barca’s injury list is quite long, with Adriano being the latest to join Messi, Victor Valdes, Dani Alves, Cristian Tello, and Jordi Alba. But Barca has the quality in their ranks to shrug off the effect of their absence.

Like Barca, Bilbao too will be without their talisman. Aritz Aduriz is suspended. But they have capable goal-scorers in Moreno Mikel Rico, Mikel San Jose and Markel Susaeta.

Athletic Bilbao-Barcelona Betting tips:

Barcelona 1.61 @ bet365.com

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For more information about this match: Athletic Bilbao-Barcelona team comparison