Athletic Bilbao v Barcelona preview: Treble winners start new campaign
Sunday 23 August 2015 18:08, UK
Barcelona know they cannot rest on the laurels of this past season's treble-winning campaign when they launch their La Liga title defence at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
Athletic humbled Barca with a 5-1 aggregate victory in the Spanish Super Cup final this month to dash the Catalans' hopes of capturing a fifth title in 2015.
Repeating last season's success will be difficult considering Barca will have to cope without some key first-team players this weekend.
Neymar will sit out Sunday's match after the player was diagnosed with mumps, while Gerard Pique serves the first of a four-match ban after being sent off in Monday's 1-1 draw against Athletic for dissent - Jeremy Mathieu is also suspended with Bartra expected to play alongside Javier Mascherano in Barca's defence.
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Bartra started in last week's 4-0 defeat at Athletic in the first leg and is eager to make amends.
"We are the defending champions and we have to defend the title like never before," Bartra said on his club's official website. "Learning from mistakes is what makes you grow and we are determined to avenge last week's result against Athletic.
"Athletic are a tough team and the best we can do is come back, play good football, and get the three points.
"We are lucky enough to be competing again very quickly and there are lots of ways we can learn from our mistakes.
"We need to press the reset button and go out for a win."
Athletic, who finished seventh in La Liga last season, are without injured striker Inaki Williams.
Watch Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona on Sunday from 17:00, live on Sky Sports 3
