FC Barcelona News: 15 August 2015; Barcelona Hammered by Athletic Bilbao, Alen Halilovic Back on Sporting Radar

Athletic Club v FC Barcelona: Gloomy night in Bilbao (4–0) | FC Barcelona
Striker Aritz Aduriz scored three times in the second half to lead Athletic Club Bilbao to a shocking 4–0 victory over FC Barcelona in the first leg of the Spanish Cup at the New Sam Mamés on a misty Friday night in Bilbao. The frustrating defeat leaves the Catalans with but one choice — go all out in Monday night's return leg, scheduled for 10.00pm CET at Camp Nou.

What a mess: Barca utterly humiliated... is sextuple dream over already? - Goal.com
The warning signs were there on Tuesday. Barcelona beat Sevilla 5-4 in a thrilling UEFA Super Cup clash in Tbilisi to take another step towards claiming the sextuple this year. But on Friday Barca let in four once again - and this time it didn't score any at all.

Luis Enrique: We can still win | FC Barcelona
Following Barça's defeat at San Mamés in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup, Luis Enrique spoke accepted the mistakes of the team: "It was not our best version, we were unlucky on some plays on which we have chances to Athletic."

Luis Enrique says Barcelona's five changes in loss 'had to be that way' - ESPN FC
"There were a lot of changes but it had to be that way after playing for 120 minutes [on Tuesday]," the manager said. "I have made changes to the side and I accept the responsibility for the loss without hesitation."

Javier Mascherano confides in comeback | FC Barcelona
"Yes, we lost, but nothing has been decided. We've won many games by a lot of goals. It will be difficult because it is a difficult opponent, but we will give everything in Barcelona," declared defender Javier Mascherano moments after his team's 4–0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao at San Mamés. "We aren't dead yet. We are capable of a comeback," he said

Barcelona's lucky charm: Pedro closes in on 100 goals ahead of Manchester United move - Goal.com
The winger's first-ever goal for Barca arrived in the Spanish Supercopa against Athletic Club at the beginning of the 2009-10 season and ironically, his last could come in a repeat fixture as Catalans and Basques meet over two legs in the same competition starting on Friday at San Mames and concluding on Monday at Camp Nou.

Sporting resume Halilovic talks | Football Espana
Abelardo Fernandez has confirmed that Sporting Gijon have resumed talks with Barcelona for Alen Halilovic. The Coach, who spent eight years at Camp Nou between 1994 and 2002, says he is hoping to take advantage of Hamburg’s decision to opt out of the race after they could not offer the Croatian starlet a guaranteed run in their team.

Source: Bostjan Cernensek http://ift.tt/1hdfgqG