Athletic Club v FC Barcelona in Copa del Rey on January 20

The Spanish Football Federation announced this Friday that the Copa del Rey round of 16 clash between Athletic Club and FC Barcelona will be played on Thursday 20 January at  9.30pm CET. 

Barça beat Linares 2-1 to earn the right to play this game, which is a repeat of the last season’s final, won 4-0 by the Catalans.

These two clubs have a long historical association to this competition. They are first and second in the all-time table of Spanish Cup victories, Barça with a record 31 and the Basques with 23. They have met four times in the final this century alone, Barça winning on every occasion.

The game at San Mamés will be played as a single leg, exactly as it was two seasons ago in the quarter finals, when Athletic were able to progress with a goal in the final minute of extra time.

In total, Barça and Athletic have met 41 times since the tournament was first contested at the very beginning of the 20^th century.