Beaten Barca looking for response in Bilbao

Midfielder Xavi Hernandez believes Barcelona have to recover the intensity in their play if they are to avoid a first league defeat of the season when they travel to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. The Catalans were beaten for the first time in 21 games since Gerardo Martino took charge in July on Tuesday as they produced an insipid display in going down 2-1 to Ajax in Amsterdam in the Champions League. Defeat was the first sign that Barca could be missing the influence of the injured Lionel Messi and Victor Valdes, but Xavi insisted those that are available have to show the right attitude when they face Athletic. "They are important players and you are going to miss them, but that wasn't the principal reason for the defeat. We didn't do enough to win. "We need to have intensity from the start and in San Mames it will be another test. "We need to turn it around and go for it from the off with that intensity that we lacked (against Ajax)." Barca are likely to also be without full-backs Adriano, Jordi Alba and Dani Alves on Sunday, but Sergio Busquets and Alexis Sanchez will return after being rested in midweek. Athletic have had an impressive start to the campaign themselves as Monday's 2-1 win over Malaga moved them to within a point of Villarreal in the final Champions League spot. Ernesto Valverde's side are unbeaten at home since the opening of the new San Mames in September with four wins and two draws from six games at their new stadium. The visit of the league leaders will prove their biggest test to date, but striker Aritz Aduriz is hoping they can take advantage of Barca's series of injuries. "They are very important players for them. We will see if we are capable of taking advantage of it, although the other players have all it takes to replace them," he told sports daily Marca. "To me they seem just as good as always. Until now they have won almost every game. Their level is just as good if not better than in previous seasons." Getafe beat Levante 1-0 on Friday, while Villarreal drew 1-1 with Malaga. Saturday, Atletico Madrid defeated Elche 2-0, Celta Vigo beat Almeria 3-1 and Real Sociedad won over Espanyol 2-1. Meanwhile, Real Madrid's 4-0 victory over Valladolid moved them to within three points of the league leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Fixtures Sunday: Real Betis v Rayo Vallecano (1100), Granada v Sevilla (1600), Valencia v Osasuna (1800), Athletic Bilbao v Barcelona (2000) Source: AFP