FC Barcelona and Athletic Club Bilbao play each other for the third time in under a month when they meet in the Camp Nou on Sunday night.
Barca won 3-2 in Athletic's San Mames Stadium on January 6 in Marcelino Garcia Toral's first game in charge at Athletic, but the Basque side then gained their revenge just 11 days later when they defeated Barca 3-2 in the final of the Spanish Supercup to lift the first trophy of the season.
The game also saw a frustrated Leo Messi sent off for the first time ever at Barcelona after swinging a punch at Athletic striker Asier Villalibre from behind, picking up a two-game ban for his action.
Messi was back in Barca's 2-1 Copa del Rey win against second division Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday and will be in the starting 11 on Sunday night along with Ousmane Dembele and Jordi Alba, who were substitutes on Wednesday, coming on to turn the game around with Barca trailing 1-0.
Other regulars such as Sergio Busquets, Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong and Antoine Griezmann who played all game may feel the tiredness in their legs, while Sergi Roberto could return to the side after three months out with a bad muscle tear.
Athletic also progressed in the Cup on Thursday and although they have 24 hours less to prepare for the game, Marcelino was able to rest most of his starting 11 as they beat Alcoyano 2-1 to book their place in the quarterfinals of the Cup.
There is a doubt over whether Inigo Martinez will be able to return after a muscle problem, but Athletic won't make many changes to the side that shocked Barca in the Supercup, as they travel with their confidence sky-high after a run of five consecutive wins.
Perhaps the biggest worry for the Basque side will be the naming of Mateu Lahoz as a referee, given his record of just six wins and 22 defeats in 33 games officiating Athletic in La Liga, compared to just four defeats in 40 matches in charge of Barca.
Many Athletic supporters wonder why their team has numbers with Lahoz that would see them relegated when their side habitually finishes in the top half of the table and his appointment is viewed with suspicion in Bilbao.
Source: XINHUANET
