Barcelona’s Mixed Fortunes at San Mamés: Liga Triumphs and Copa Setbacks

Barcelona faces a crucial visit to San Mamés this Sunday, aiming to secure three points to keep their La Liga comeback hopes alive. The recent memory of Copa del Rey quarter-final elimination, played as a single-leg fixture at the Basque stadium, adds pressure to the encounter, with Athletic emerging victorious in extra time (4-2).

While recent Copa del Rey outings have been challenging for Barcelona in San Mamés, the story differs in La Liga. In the last ten league visits to the notoriously difficult San Mamés, Barcelona has suffered only two defeats. Last season, under Xavi’s management, they secured a narrow victory with a goal from Raphinha. The most recent defeat occurred in the opening match of the 2019-20 season, with Ernesto Valverde leading Athletic to a last-minute win with a stunning goal from Aduritz. Another defeat took place in the 2013-14 season under Tata Martino’s tenure, also by a minimal margin with a goal from Muniain.

In the remaining eight league visits to San Mamés, Barcelona achieved six victories and two draws. Notable among these triumphs was the emphatic 2014-15 season, where Luis Enrique’s team dominated with a 5-2 win. Messi, Luis Suárez, Neymar, Pedro, and an own goal from De Marcos contributed to Barcelona’s convincing victory.

For the upcoming clash, Xavi’s team enjoys the advantage of a week-long break, while Ernesto Valverde’s side had a challenging Copa del Rey encounter against Atlético Madrid. Additionally, Athletic faces significant absences, as Nico Williams received a red card last week against Betis, and Vivian received his fifth yellow card.