Sports Mole previews Saturday’s La Liga clash between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Barcelona will be aiming to make it back-to-back wins at the start of the new La Liga campaign when they welcome Athletic Bilbao to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Saturday night.
Hansi Flick‘s side recorded a 2-1 victory over Valencia in their first game of the new season, while Athletic opened their 2024-25 campaign with a 1-1 draw against Getafe.
Match preview
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Barcelona fell behind in the 44th minute of their La Liga opener with Valencia last weekend, with Hugo Duro heading Los Che into the lead, but Robert Lewandowski scored either side of the interval to turn the game around, as Flick started his reign as head coach with all three points.
The Catalan giants have a busy end to August, taking on Athletic, Rayo Vallecano and Real Valladolid in quick succession, and it would not be a surprise to see them have maximum points on the board heading into the September international break.
It is still obviously incredibly early in the season, but the fact that Real Madrid dropped points on the opening weekend was a big positive for a Barcelona side that will be expecting to battle Los Blancos for the title this term.
Barcelona have only made two signings this summer, with Pau Victor and Dani Olmo arriving at the club, but the Catalan team have been frustrated in their pursuit of Nico Williams.
At one stage, it appeared that Flick’s side were on the verge of signing Nico Williams from Athletic, but the Euro 2024-winning star now looks set to remain at San Mames, and it would be some story if he ended up inspiring the Lions to a victory at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Saturday.
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Athletic were far from their best against Getafe in their campaign opener; Oihan Sancet sent them ahead in the 27th minute of the clash, but they conceded just past the hour to draw 1-1 at San Mames.
The Red and Whites, who finished fifth in La Liga last term, will now head to Barcelona, and these are the type of matches that they need to get results in if the team are to challenge for the top four this term.
Athletic, as mentioned, have managed to keep hold of star player Nico Williams – for now – but there has been a number of departures, including Dani Garcia and Iker Muniain.
Alvaro Djalo and Andoni Gorosabel have been their two incomings, with more expected to follow before the end of the transfer window, and it will be fascinating to see what the team can achieve this season.
Ernesto Valverde‘s side drew 0-0 with Barcelona when the two teams last locked horns in March, but they have not managed to beat the Catalan outfit away from home in La Liga since November 2001.
Barcelona La Liga form:
Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:
Team News
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Barcelona remain without the services of four players through injury, with Ansu Fati, Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong and Gavi all unavailable for selection.
There is a hope that Olmo will be registered in time to make his Barcelona debut this weekend, but it could come off the bench, with fit-again Pedri likely to feature in the number 10 position.
Three 17-year-olds started for Barcelona against Valencia, with Pau Cubarsi, Marc Bernal and Lamine Yamal in the first XI, and that should again be the case against Athletic.
Ilkay Gundogan is on the verge of leaving the club to return to Manchester City, but Andreas Christensen will be in Flick’s thinking if the manager does decide to freshen his side for this clash.
As for Athletic, Nico Williams featured off the bench against Getafe last time out, but the Spain star is set to return to the XI on Saturday evening, potentially taking the place of Alex Berenguer.
Djalo, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Nico Serrano, Oscar de Marcos, Julen Agirrezabala and Unai Simon are all currently on the sidelines for the Lions.
As a result, 20-year-old Mexican goalkeeper Alex Padilla is in line for another start between the sticks, while summer arrival Gorosabel is set to continue at right-back this weekend.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Kounde, Cubarsi, I Martinez, Balde; Bernal, Casado; Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Padilla; Gorosabel, Yeray, Paredes, Yuri; Prados, Vesga; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Guruzeta
We say: Barcelona 2-1 Athletic Bilbao
At full strength, Athletic would fancy their chances of securing a positive result this weekend, but they have some key absences, especially between the sticks, and we are backing Barcelona to make it successive victories at the start of their 2024-25 La Liga campaign.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.