Guardiola wary of Bilbao threat

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has played down Athletic Bilbao’s hefty schedule ahead of their clash with his side at Camp Nou on Saturday.

Bilbao defeated Schalke 4-2 in their Europa League quarter-final first leg on Thursday and have just one full day’s rest prior to their match with the La Liga champions.

“The timing is what it is,” Guardiola told reporters.

“It’s better to have three or four days off but teams that want to reach the finals must play many matches close together and in this kind of situation.

“And we’ll do well not to think that Athletic will arrive here tired.”

Guardiola is wary of the Basque side and the tactical nous of their coach, Marcelo Bielsa.

“I consider him the best there is and it is a pleasure for me to face him,” the former Spain international said of the Argentine.

“I have so much admiration for Bielsa and I try to learn from him.

“And Athletic have been the sensation of Europe this season. They deserve the admiration of all.

“In the games I’ve seen, they have been a pleasure to watch. This will be a complicated game, very tough and very demanding.

“But I encourage the fans to come to the ground because it will be a very good game to see.”