By BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona is set to host Athletic Club in a La Liga match on Saturday at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. The match kicks off at 18:00 BST.
Barcelona, under new manager Hansi Flick, enters the game following a two-one victory against Valencia in their season opener. Athletic Club, meanwhile, drew one-one with Getafe in their first match.
The focus is on Athletic Club’s Nico Williams, who has been linked with a potential transfer to Barcelona throughout the summer. Williams is expected to face his reported admirers before the transfer window closes.
Barcelona will be without midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who has returned to Manchester City after one season. Injuries to Gavi and Frenkie de Jong further limit Flick’s midfield options. Defender Ronald Araujo is also sidelined, likely giving Pau Cubarsi an opportunity to partner with Inigo Martinez in central defense.
Young talents Lamine Yamal and Pedri are expected to feature in Barcelona’s starting lineup. The availability of new signing Dani Olmo remains uncertain pending registration.
Athletic Club faces goalkeeper challenges with both Unai Simon and Julen Agirrezabala unavailable. Alex Padilla is set to start in goal. The team will also miss several other players due to injuries, including Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta and Aitor Paredes.
In their last five encounters, Barcelona has won three matches, Athletic Club one, with one draw. Their most recent meeting on March 3, 2024, ended in a scoreless draw.
Jesus Gil Manzano will referee the match, with Valentin Pizarro Gomez serving as the VAR official.
The match presents an opportunity for Barcelona to build on their opening win and for Athletic Club to secure their first victory of the season. It also offers a stage for players like Nico Williams to showcase their skills amid ongoing transfer speculations.
