Barcelona play host to Athletic Bilbao in tonight’s La Liga clash, and Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde has said he isn’t going to take the game lightly.

Valverde has urged his players to take the game to Barcelona, even though he admits Barcelona are usually strong at home.

“It’s a complicated place for Athletic, FC Barcelona have been very strong at home in recent years,” Valverde said on Saturday.

“The way they play, the way they push you back and keep possession, they’re a very strong team. Tomorrow’s game is not a challenge, it’s an opportunity to break a bad record and get three points on the road.

“We’re a team that tries to control and dominate the game. Against teams like FC Barcelona we know that control might belong to our opponents and we will need to be patient.”

He continued: “We’re eager to compete. In any match, you always have a dose of uncertainty about what might happen or how the game might go.

“We know that this match is difficult, they’re the current LaLiga champions and favourites to win this one too. We’re going to a difficult ground.”