Spanish champions FC Barcelona travelled to Bilbao on Wednesday without star strikers Lionel Messi, who has physical problems, and the suspended Luis Suarez to face Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.
Suarez, suspended for an argument with Espanyol players following their clash in the Copa del Rey knockout stage, has not travelled although Barcelona are awaiting the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Coach Luis Enrique has called 18 players, who do not include injured players Jeremy Mathieu and Jordi Alba, as well as keeper Claudio Bravo due to a technical decision.