On Sunday evening, Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Club will host Barcelona at San Mames. In their previous encounter earlier in the season, Xavi’s side demolished the Basques 4:0 at the Camp Nou. But that was Barça at their best; Barça with the likes of Pedri, Robert Lewandowski and Ousmane Dembele, none of whom will feature in the reverse fixture. Add to that the absence of Ronald Araujo and this might indeed pose a challenge to the Catalans.

So what can we expect from Athletic Club? How do they set up, how do they like to attack and defend? And how do they stack up against Barcelona?

Let’s find out.