I mentioned Barca's record in big games this season before kick-off... They have lost both Clasicos, their only league game against Atletico, the Super Cup final and their Champions League last-16 tie with PSG.

It's not a good record.

How has this not gone in?

Antoine Griezmann sliding in just a few yards out to meet a cross but Unai Simon saves with his legs.

That's the best chance of the game.

Athletic Bilbao make a change at the break. Skipper Iker Muniain is replaced by Inigo Lekue/ I assume that's an injury.

Barca have Ousmane Dembele on the bench. I wonder how long it'll be before we see the France international.

Barcelona had all of the ball in that half without doing a lot with it after Frenkie de Jong hit the post early on.

Athletic have largely come to spoil.

Image source, Getty Images

It's goalless at the break.

Image source, Getty Images

One minute is added on at the end of the first half.

Barcelona have the optimistic of handball appeals turned away after the ball is smacked into Dani Garcia's arm in the box.

Just a minute or so to go until half-time.

Athletic on the attack for the first time in a long while through Inaki Williams...

The striker beats Gerard Pique for pace and fires a cross-shot across goal but Marc Andre ter Stegen's hands are excellent. He gobbles the ball up.

Into the wall from Messi...

This time Garcia does get a yellow for yet another foul on Messi. This is in shooting range...

Messi is really unhappy that a yellow card was not shown there. After an angry word or two in the direction of the ref, he's now in discussion with the fourth official.

Dani Garcia blocks off Lionel Messi with the most cynical of fouls. Ronald Koeman is not impressed. Messi is down receiving treatment.

Luis Enrique is in the house. He was Barca boss when they beat Athletic in the 2015 Copa del Rey final.

He'll be strictly impartial tonight of course...

It's the battle of the man bun on this near touchline. Iker Muniain puts an elbow into the back of his hairstyle-counterpart Oscar Mingueza as they jump for the ball.

Athletic midfielder Dani Garcia has spent an awful lot of this opening 28 minutes rolling on the floor.

Messi takes a tumble around 25 yards out. He wants a free-kick but the referee disagrees. It looked a foul from Dani Garcia to me, with Messi doing his best to hurdle the challenge.

I worry how long Athletic Bilbao can keep Barca out if things continue like this. Another spell of Barcelona pressure ends with Messi shooting at goal. A deflection takes the sting out the great man's effort and it's easily saved.

Barca had 87% possession at the last count. They're sweeping the ball around once more.

There are only the players, coaches and a smattering of dignitaries in attendance in Seville. You can hear the shouts from every player. Most of the noise is coming from Athletic keeper Unai Simon who is ordering his defenders left and right as they try to keep Barcelona out.