It wasn't a great game but a great goal won it. At 38 years old, Aduriz has no business attempting things like that but he did and it worked.
Athletic had been quite poor in the second half and although Barcelona didn't do enough in the final third to win it, they looked the more likely as the game went on but Aduriz had different ideas.
70' There's a scramble in the box and it eventually falls to Rakitic who lashes it but it's always rising and goes over the bar. That's a great chance for Barca.
62' Athletic have a freekick from distance and as has seemed to be their tactic tonight they have a go. It's laid off for Yuri but it's wide and extremely high.
Luis Suarez may have limped off with an injury but there's still no shortage of attacking talent on the pitch. Can Williams, Griezmann, Muniain, Garcia, Dembele or Rafinha produce something? From the feel of the first half, it might be more likely that the winner comes from a centre back at a corner.
It hasn't been a great half. Athletic have been the better team but Barca has had the better chances with two shots hitting the woodwork. Athletic will be happy enough so far, Barca not so much.
44' Wow! Rafinha almost breaks the deadlock. After some play on the right-wing the Brazilian comes inside onto his left foot and hits a superb shot that looks in all the way but Unai Simon uses every inch he has to get fingertips on it and it hits the bar. Great effort and an even better save.
36' Big chance for Athletic. Capa gets behind the defence and squares it to Raul Garcia but he's stretching and can't get power behind the shot and it's easy for ter Stegen.
28' The game has become a bit of a catalogue of errors in midfield. Barcelona isn't stringing anything together while Athletic are better in possession but not creating much.
17' Barcelona's first bit of good play comes as Dembele jinks past a defender and passes to Griezmann who tries to lay it into the path of Roberto but he's squeezed out and Athletic clear.
15' Williams gets behind Pique and leaves him in his wake as he goes toward goal. He's a bit wide though and ter Stegen does a good job with his angles and makes the save.
7' Dembele loses possession and Williams tries a fierce shot from all of 30 yards. Ter Stegen is equal to it and sends it round the post. Raul Garcia is unmarked at the back post from the corner but his header is high and wayward.
0' Athletic get us underway in their usual home colours of red and white tops with black shorts and socks against Barcelona in an all-yellow kit apart from a Blaugrana sash across the top.
The players are lined up inside what looks like prison cells at San Mames. They make their way onto the pitch to the operatic sound of the Athletic anthem. Kick-off moments away.
Barcelona announced a 19 man squad for this game meaning one player that made the trip wouldn't play. That player is Coutinho and it appears the reason behind that is because Barcelona is in advance negotiations with Bayern Munich for the Brazilian to move on loan to Germany for the season.
Fresh from signing a nine-year contract, Inaki Williams starts for Athletic. That means Aduriz is on the bench which will probably save Pique a lot of bruises tomorrow morning but he better get his hamstrings stretched right out in the warm-up as he'll have a lot of running to do if he is to stop the electric Inaki Williams.
Barcelona has picked an unusual three in midfield this evening. Roberto will anchor it with De Jong and Alena either side of him. Busquets and Rakitic both start on the bench. Is this a statement of intent from Valverde? San Mames isn't the kind of place to leave your experienced players on the bench.
Over on VAVEL UK's new Twitter account, VAVEL European Football, fans have been voting on the outcome of tonight's game. At present 76% of fans think Barcelona will win, 16% expect a draw and just 8% are going for the home team.
Do not miss a detail of the match with the live updates and commentaries of VAVEL. Follow along with us all the details, commentaries, analysis and lineups for this Athletic Bilbao vs FC Barcelona.
The last match between Athletic and Barcelona was last February 10, at the Camp Nou, when the scoreboard failed to move and the 23rd round of Liga Santander ended with the distribution of points between both teams.
Iñaki Williams is one of the clearest threats in the attack of Athletic Club that, in addition to his talent, has signed a contract virtually for life with the club of Bilbao.
Griezmann, nuevo jugador azulgrana | Foto: Noelia Déniz - VAVEL
Antonie Griezmann has undoubtedly been one of the most popular signings this summer.
The striker, who has arrived from Atletico Madrid, will give more magic and power to the azulgrana attack. The Frenchman will be able to make his official debut for Barcelona in Bilbao if the coach chooses him to replace Messi's absence.
Griezmann, nuevo jugador azulgrana | Foto: Noelia Déniz - VAVEL
"It's a very difficult game to start. Athletic had a good preseason and we will have to be attentive. In addition, we will not risk with any player and less with Messi. He's following a good recovery process".
Barcelona, on the other hand, arrives after a tour around Japan and the United States in which the youth academy has taken the lead.
With the South American internationals lacking game time (Suárez, Arthur, Coutinho and Arturo Vidal), the new signings will have to take centre stage.
The arrivals of De Jong, Neto, Griezmann, Firpo and the promotion of Wagué have eased the enthusiasm of the fans, who are asking more of their team after the undoing of the previous year.
With Neymar around the azulgrana trails, Valverde needs to start the season doing well.
Athletic Bilbao starts the season after a hard preparation summer. They have played eight friendly matches against rivals like Roma, Mönchendgladbach or Racing de Santander.
The almost lifetime renewal of Williams and the retirement announcement at the end of the year for Aduriz have been the most talked about in Bilbao, which hope to meet the goals set for the season.
Welcome to VAVEL.com’s LIVE coverage of the 2019 La Liga match: Athletic Bilbao vs FC Barcelona!
My name is Alan Nunez and I’ll be your host for this game. We will provide you with pre-game analysis, roster updates, and news as it happens live here on VAVEL.
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