Iker Muniain is hopeful that Athletic Bilbao can upset Barcelona’s title hopes this weekend by taking the three points at San Mames.
Barca go into the fixture aware that a win followed by Real Madrid losing in the Madrid derby would guarantee them a 22nd League title.
However, Athletic’s tricky winger is adamant that Saturday evening’s hosts will be out to crash the party.
“They could be champions if they win, so they will do everything possible. We hope to play well and to delay their title,” Muniain told reporters today.
“But, we will have to play perfectly if we are to pick up the three points.
“Whilst they are going through a slump, the capacity of the players at Barcelona is much greater than at any other team.
“Therefore, whoever plays for them will make things very difficult.
“We just want to win and make up the points tally to 40 as soon as we can. We will try to steal the ball, make them feel at unease and play more as it is in our field rather than theirs.
“If we can do that, we will have the chance of winning.”
Muniain, who offered little comment on the status of his contract renewal at Athletic, reflected on Barca’s recent defeat to Bayern Munich.
“At some stage, all teams go through a difficult patch and they too are human. Obviously it is affected by the amount of games they play, but we must recognise that in Germany they were up against a great opponent, one of the strongest in Europe, and that in the Champions League there is no free lunch.”
