FCBARCELONA.CAT

13.08.2009 11:00

San Mamés has always been a tough venue

Pau Ramírez

Barça’s first competitive match this season will be at San Mamés, a tough venue where Barça have always found it hard to win.

So far Bilbao and Barça have gone head-to-head 92 times at San Mamés (78 times in the League, 13 in the Spanish Cup and once in the Super Cup), with the Catalans coming out on top on 26 occasions.

Second Super Cup game at San Mamés

Sunday’s match will be Barça’s second trip to San Mamés in the Spanish Super Cup. On their previous visit on 26 October 1983 they won 1-3 with goals by Alexanko, Carrasco and Rojo to set up eventual victory in the competition.

Barça’s remaining 25 wins in Bilbao are split between the League (21) and King’s Cup (4). In the other games the Basques have won 47 times (41 in the League and 6 in the Cup) with 19 ending in draws (16 in the League and 3 in the Cup).

Worst thrashing received

It was at San Mamés that Barça received their worst thrashing in the League when they went down 12-1 on 8 February 1931. The Catalans first win at ‘The Cathedral’ came in the 1931-32 season when goals by Ramon, Goiburu and Parera gave them a 3-1 win.

Good results in recent years

Barça won on their last visit to Bilbao with a Samuel Eto'o goal giving Pep Guardiola’s side all three points. In fact, though the overall record is against Barça, the Catalans have had the better of more recent encounters: they have won 11 of their last 20 games at San Mamés with another four ending in draws.