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Preview: Barca host Athletic Club as they return to the Camp Nou after 909 days away

Preview: Barca host Athletic Club as they return to the Camp Nou after 909 days away

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The defending Spanish champions host Nico Williams’ Athletic at Spotify Camp Nou’s grand reopening

By Filip Mishov

Barça return home, ending a two-and-a-half-year wait

Barcelona’s long-awaited homecoming is set for Saturday after LaLiga finally authorised the Spanish champions’ return to Spotify Camp Nou for the upcoming clash against Athletic Club, in what would be the first match at the now-renovated stadium since May 2023. With Hansi Flick‘s squad already boasting a flawless record with five wins at the various home venues they’ve used in Spain’s top tier this season, Barça are now scheduled to play five home matches across all competitions over the next month, the return to Camp Nou comes at a perfect time.

Unlike the Culers, the Basque visitors will not be thrilled about the news, as Athletic Club are without a league win at Barcelona in 24 years, or more precisely since 2001/02. Furthermore, the Red and Whites have left Catalonia without defeat on only five occasions across all competitions in the past couple of decades, most recently in 2018. This season, the record of Ernesto Valverde‘s squad away from Bilbao is not one to be proud of, with only one win, one draw, and three defeats accompanied by negative goal difference (-3).

Key players

Robert Lewandowski resumed goalscoring and leadership duties in a Barca shirt just before the November international break with an emphatic hat-trick against Celta Vigo, earning him a FotMob rating of 9.6 despite having the fewest touches (28) of any outfield player to play 90 minutes. The 37-year-old continued his impressive form by scoring one goal and recording a couple of assists for Poland as well, and the prolific striker’s performances will continue to be key for his club given Lamine Yamal and Raphinha‘s questionable availability.

Fittingly, Joan Laporta’s no. 1 target over the past couple of summer transfer windows – Nico Williams will step out as the first “villain” since the stadium’s reopening. The lethal forward rejected a move to Barça both in the last window and last year, and even though the 23-year-old is still finding his form this season, the Spanish international is Athletic’s best and most dangerous player. With two goals, an assist and nine chances created, the younger Williams brother is the Bilbao-based club’s joint-top scorer and assist maker.

Team news

The feud between Barcelona and Spain’s FA continued for yet another international window with Lamine Yamal the centre of attention after a late injury ruled the prodigy out of international duty. The 18-year-old has since returned to training ahead of Saturday’s clash, as did Marc Casadó. Frenkie de Jong serves a one-match suspension after his recent red card, while Marc-André ter Stegen, Gavi and Pedri remain out, but on a positive note, Joan García and Raphinha are also back in training and expected to play.

Things are not must better among Athletic’s squad with key players like Beñat Prados, Maroan Sannadi and Iñaki Williams all ruled out with injuries. Oihan Sancet and Nico Williams, however, are expected to start after recovering from injury.

Prediction

Barça are heavy favourites given their quality, form and most importantly, the big occasion. Also, Hansi Flick and all those players who’ve joined or broken through to the first team are yet to experience the magic of Camp Nou, making a win almost a certainty. As always, though, do not rule out Barca conceding a goal thanks to Flick’s favoured high risk high line.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, player ratings. Download the free app here.

Preview: Barca host Athletic Club as they return to the Camp Nou after 909 days away

The defending Spanish champions host Nico Williams’ Athletic at Spotify Camp Nou’s grand reopening

By Filip Mishov

Barça return home, ending a two-and-a-half-year wait

Barcelona’s long-awaited homecoming is set for Saturday after LaLiga finally authorised the Spanish champions’ return to Spotify Camp Nou for the upcoming clash against Athletic Club, in what would be the first match at the now-renovated stadium since May 2023. With Hansi Flick‘s squad already boasting a flawless record with five wins at the various home venues they’ve used in Spain’s top tier this season, Barça are now scheduled to play five home matches across all competitions over the next month, the return to Camp Nou comes at a perfect time.

Unlike the Culers, the Basque visitors will not be thrilled about the news, as Athletic Club are without a league win at Barcelona in 24 years, or more precisely since 2001/02. Furthermore, the Red and Whites have left Catalonia without defeat on only five occasions across all competitions in the past couple of decades, most recently in 2018. This season, the record of Ernesto Valverde‘s squad away from Bilbao is not one to be proud of, with only one win, one draw, and three defeats accompanied by negative goal difference (-3).

Key players

Robert Lewandowski resumed goalscoring and leadership duties in a Barca shirt just before the November international break with an emphatic hat-trick against Celta Vigo, earning him a FotMob rating of 9.6 despite having the fewest touches (28) of any outfield player to play 90 minutes. The 37-year-old continued his impressive form by scoring one goal and recording a couple of assists for Poland as well, and the prolific striker’s performances will continue to be key for his club given Lamine Yamal and Raphinha‘s questionable availability.

Fittingly, Joan Laporta’s no. 1 target over the past couple of summer transfer windows – Nico Williams will step out as the first “villain” since the stadium’s reopening. The lethal forward rejected a move to Barça both in the last window and last year, and even though the 23-year-old is still finding his form this season, the Spanish international is Athletic’s best and most dangerous player. With two goals, an assist and nine chances created, the younger Williams brother is the Bilbao-based club’s joint-top scorer and assist maker.

Team news

The feud between Barcelona and Spain’s FA continued for yet another international window with Lamine Yamal the centre of attention after a late injury ruled the prodigy out of international duty. The 18-year-old has since returned to training ahead of Saturday’s clash, as did Marc Casadó. Frenkie de Jong serves a one-match suspension after his recent red card, while Marc-André ter Stegen, Gavi and Pedri remain out, but on a positive note, Joan García and Raphinha are also back in training and expected to play.

Things are not must better among Athletic’s squad with key players like Beñat Prados, Maroan Sannadi and Iñaki Williams all ruled out with injuries. Oihan Sancet and Nico Williams, however, are expected to start after recovering from injury.

Prediction

Barça are heavy favourites given their quality, form and most importantly, the big occasion. Also, Hansi Flick and all those players who’ve joined or broken through to the first team are yet to experience the magic of Camp Nou, making a win almost a certainty. As always, though, do not rule out Barca conceding a goal thanks to Flick’s favoured high risk high line.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, player ratings. Download the free app here.