Key game for Barca in San Mames on Sunday

FC Barcelona face a vital away game on Sunday night when they travel to play Athletic Club Bilbao in the San Mames Stadium.

Following their defeat away to Real Sociedad in the first match of 2015, Luis Enrique's side have won every game they played, now they must return to the Basque region knowing that anything other than a win will do serious harm to their league title hopes.

Barca have the luxury of playing 24 hours after the Madrid derby between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid and depending on the result of that game, could close to within just one point of Real Madrid at the top of the table, and thus have their title destiny in their own hands once again, or move six clear of Atletico in second place.

Barca coach Luis Enrique has no serious injury worries for the game, with the only doubt whether or not he will decide to punish Neymar for arriving five minutes late to training on Friday morning.

The Brazilian has been in excellent form of late, forming part of an attacking trip involving Luis Suarez and Leo Messi, in which although Suarez has struggled to score, he has contributed various assists to his companions.

The other cloud hanging over Barcelona is the decision taken by Judge Pablo Ruz to indict him on charges of tax fraud relating to the purchase of Neymar in 2013, but it remains to be seen how much off the field issues will affect the on field performance of the players.

Athletic meanwhile go into the game without injured midfielder, Ander Iturraspe, who will miss between four and six weeks with a knee injury. He will be replaced by either Mikel San Jose or Benat Etxeberria for a game about which coach, Ernesto Valverde commented; "We know we are going to have to run more than they are and we have to make the game difficult for them to have any options of winning."

Athletic will be boosted by last weekend's 2-1 win away to Levante and will once again look to striker Aritz Aduriz to carry their main attacking threat. Endi