After a dominant 5-0 victory on opening day, Barcelona is set to host Athletic Bilbao at Spotify Camp Nou on Thursday evening, aiming for a second consecutive win in La Liga. This matchup features the defending champions against a Bilbao side eager to bounce back. Edin Terzic’s team suffered a 3-1 defeat at home to Sevilla in their first match and now faces a tough challenge against Barcelona, a team they have not beaten at Camp Nou in their last 15 La Liga encounters. Hansi Flick’s squad quickly showcased their ambitions for the season with a convincing 5-0 away win over Elche in their opener, demonstrating why they are considered title favorites. Newly signed Karim Adeyemi made an immediate impact, with Raphinha scoring first, followed by Adeyemi doubling the lead. Raphinha added another goal, and Fermin Lopez capped off the scoring with two goals. Last season, Barcelona clinched the title with 94 points, netting 95 goals throughout a dominant run. Their attacking lineup looks as strong as ever, bolstered by new summer signings, indicating they will fiercely defend their title. Barcelona boasts an impressive home record against Athletic Bilbao, remaining unbeaten in their last 15 top-flight meetings at Camp Nou. This statistic is likely to weigh heavily on Terzic’s squad from the start of the match. Athletic Club is entering a new phase under Terzic after Ernesto Valverde's departure, but the early results have been disappointing. They lost their last three pre-season matches, conceding a total of seven goals. The loss to Sevilla on opening day only added to their worries, as the match was heavily influenced by Yuri Berchiche’s red card in the 11th minute. Following that, Sevilla took control, scoring first through Oso and adding a second from Chidera Ejuke.