Lionel Messi
Barcelona eked out a narrow victory over Malaga in La Liga at the weekend Getty Images

Barcelona have the upper hand heading into the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final tie against Athletic Bilbao at the Nou Camp on 27 January.

Where to watch

Kick-off is set for 8.30pm GMT. The game is not scheduled for live broadcast in the UK.

Overview

Barcelona are on a six-game winning run in all competitions — a sequence that included a 6-0 thrashing of Athletic Bilbao at the Nou Camp in La Liga. The Catalan giants, who edged last week's first leg 2-1 at San Mames, have not lost a competitive match at home since February last year.

Barca forward Luis Suarez is available to face Athletic after completing a two-match ban, but Sergio Busquets, Arda Turan (both illness), Jordi Alba (hamstring) and Neymar (leg) are all doubts.

Athletic Bilbao rebounded from back-to-back defeats against Barcelona by beating Basque rivals Eibar 5-2 at the weekend, with Aritz Aduriz scoring a brace. The San Mames outfit have not won at the Nou Camp for more than a decade, with their last success at the ground coming all the way back in November 2001.

Ernesto Valverde has no fresh injury concerns. Winger Ibai Gomez (thigh) remains sidelined but Ander Iturraspe (hamstring) could return.

What managers say

Luis Enrique: "It is difficult for us to play such a weak first half, lots of problems, lots of mistakes. Even after scoring so early. We were inferior to Malaga in the first half, they made many more chances than us. It is difficult to remember a first half from us so weak. But I liked the improvement in the second half, and drive of team to win the three points. It is easier to win when you play well, but we managed to get three points when playing badly."

Ernesto Valverde: "Aduriz scored two goals and Benat gave us control and organization [against Eibar]. They are two jewels, but for me the other players we have in the squad are no less [than them]. What Benat does, I cannot ask [Oscar] De Marcos to do, but what he does or what [Mikel] Balenziaga does is also irreplaceable."

Form guide

  • Barcelona (all competitions): WWWWW
  • Last result: Malaga 1-2 Barcelona
  • Athletic Bilbao (all competitions): WLLWL
  • Last result: Athletic Bilbao 5-2 Eibar

Betting odds (bet365)

  • Barcelona win: 3/10
  • Draw: 9/2
  • Athletic Bilbao win: 15/2

Team news

Barcelona possible XI: Ter Stegen; Vidal, Pique, Mathieu, Adriano; Rakitic, Roberto, Turan; Messi, Suarez, Munir

Athletic Bilbao possible XI: Herrerin; De Marcos, Etxeita, Laporte, Balenziaga; San Jose, Benat; Susaeta, Eraso, Muniain; Aduriz

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