Clash of cup titans to test Barca's resilience

Barcelona survived a draining Champions League semi-final second leg away to Chelsea last week, scoring a late equaliser to book a place in the May 27 final.

But on Sunday, they were on the receiving end of a stoppage-time goal that denied them the Primera Liga title at home to Villarreal. Barca let slip a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3 following the red card for defender Eric Abidal, 12 minutes from time.

Joseba Llorente's strike silenced a packed Nou Camp who had already started their celebrations.

Barca only need one point from their remaining three matches, but the look of disbelief on his players' faces will have worried coach Pep Guardiola.

"A few days ago we did the same to Chelsea, now it is us who have suffered. But we are closer still to the title," Guardiola said.

Guardiola said his players were feeling the accumulated strain of so many important matches in such a short space of time, and was particularly concerned by the injury to midfielder Andres Iniesta who damaged a thigh muscle in Sunday's game.

Iniesta joins Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez on a growing injury list, and he will also be deprived of the suspended Abidal.

Barca won a record 24th King's Cup on their last final appearance against Real Mallorca in 1998, which was also held in Valencia's Mestalla, the venue for today's encounter.

Up against them are a side who are being swept to the east coast on a wave of emotion by their fans - 20,000 of whom packed San Mames on Sunday just to watch their last training session before they travelled.

Athletic rested most of their first-team regulars for the 1-0 victory over Real Betis on Saturday, that left them safe in mid-table.

Athletic won the last of their 23 cups in 1984, beating Barcelona 1-0 in a final best remembered for a brutal exchange of kicks and punches between the players, including Diego Maradona, at the end.