Barca scrapped to a 1-0 win in the fixture last season thanks to a second-half strike from Luis Suarez, after Lionel Messi missed a penalty.
But the Catalans were thrashed 4-0 at San Mames in the Spanish Super Cup, the only domestic competition they failed to win last season.
Athletic, who only field players who were born in or brought up in the Basque Country, finished fifth in La Liga last season, missing out on Champions League football by two points while also reaching the Europa League quarter-finals.
Although Barca won four of six meetings with Athletic last term, winning both legs of their Copa del Rey quarter-final tie as well as both league games, Luis Enrique is prepared for another testing game against Ernesto Valverde's side.
Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick as Barcelona beat Real Betis 6-2 in their opening La Liga game of the season
"It is one of the most difficult games you can play away from home," Luis Enrique told a news conference on Saturday.
"The fact Athletic have a limited market to choose from, and the fact they have the same coach, means it will be the same as always.
"We are excited to play at San Mames, a stadium we love with an atmosphere you get at few other grounds in the league," he added.
"We'll focus on the problems Valverde will cause us, pressuring us when we're on the ball and giving us problems on the counter."
Barca lead the La Liga table on goal difference after thrashing Real Betis 6-2 in their opening game and are boosted by the return of Javier Mascherano and Marc-Andre ter Stegen from injury.
Athletic Bilbao: Team News
Athletic Bilbao suffered a shock defeat in their first La Liga game against Sporting Gijon at El Molinon. The Basque club registered more shots on goal than their opposition and had more possession, but still couldn’t dominate in the stat which matters, that is of course, goals. Duje Cop and Victor Rodriguez netted for Sporting Gijon in the second half, which made Athletic Bilbao return empty handed, although Borja Viguera had a late consolation for Ernesto Valverde’s side.
The game was marred by racist chants from Gijon fans targeting Athletic striker Inaki Williams. So it will be interesting to see if the striker will start against last season’s league champions, Barcelona, to show if he has mental strength to stand up against the haters.
Athletic Bilbao: Predicted Line-up (4-2-3-1)
Iraizoz — de Marcos, Boveda, Laporte, Balenziaga — San Jose, Benat — Williams, Raul Garcia, Susaeta — Aduriz
Barcelona: Team News
The biggest change for Barcelona is that goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has departed the club after two wonderful years. The Chilean helped Barcelona win eight of the ten available trophies and now has joined former Barcelona manager in Manchester City.
But the Catalans were thrashed 4-0 at San Mames in the Spanish Super Cup, the only domestic competition they failed to win last season.
Athletic, who only field players who were born in or brought up in the Basque Country, finished fifth in La Liga last season, missing out on Champions League football by two points while also reaching the Europa League quarter-finals.
Although Barca won four of six meetings with Athletic last term, winning both legs of their Copa del Rey quarter-final tie as well as both league games, Luis Enrique is prepared for another testing game against Ernesto Valverde's side.
Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick as Barcelona beat Real Betis 6-2 in their opening La Liga game of the season
"It is one of the most difficult games you can play away from home," Luis Enrique told a news conference on Saturday.
"The fact Athletic have a limited market to choose from, and the fact they have the same coach, means it will be the same as always.
"We are excited to play at San Mames, a stadium we love with an atmosphere you get at few other grounds in the league," he added.
"We'll focus on the problems Valverde will cause us, pressuring us when we're on the ball and giving us problems on the counter."
Barca lead the La Liga table on goal difference after thrashing Real Betis 6-2 in their opening game and are boosted by the return of Javier Mascherano and Marc-Andre ter Stegen from injury.
Athletic Bilbao: Team News
Athletic Bilbao suffered a shock defeat in their first La Liga game against Sporting Gijon at El Molinon. The Basque club registered more shots on goal than their opposition and had more possession, but still couldn’t dominate in the stat which matters, that is of course, goals. Duje Cop and Victor Rodriguez netted for Sporting Gijon in the second half, which made Athletic Bilbao return empty handed, although Borja Viguera had a late consolation for Ernesto Valverde’s side.
The game was marred by racist chants from Gijon fans targeting Athletic striker Inaki Williams. So it will be interesting to see if the striker will start against last season’s league champions, Barcelona, to show if he has mental strength to stand up against the haters.
Athletic Bilbao: Predicted Line-up (4-2-3-1)
Iraizoz — de Marcos, Boveda, Laporte, Balenziaga — San Jose, Benat — Williams, Raul Garcia, Susaeta — Aduriz
Barcelona: Team News
The biggest change for Barcelona is that goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has departed the club after two wonderful years. The Chilean helped Barcelona win eight of the ten available trophies and now has joined former Barcelona manager in Manchester City.
