Two opponents: two new coaches
Barça's next opponents in La Liga and the Champions League have one thing in common: both have changed their coach recently. Just two days into 2021 Paris Saint-Germain announced that Mauricio Pochettino would be taking charge at the French champions whilst just a day later Athletic Club de Bilbao announced that Marcelino García Toral would be the Basque club's new boss.
Both men are no strangers to Barça fans having previously faced the blaugranes not only as coaches but also as players.
As a Sporting Gijón player Marcelino faced Barça on seven occasions, ending up on the winning side just twice, drawing twice and losing on three occasions.
Marcelino breaks his duck
During his coaching career the Asturian born manager has come up against Barça on 21 occasions at six different clubs, Recreativo, Racing Santander, Zaragoza, Sevilla, Villarreal and Valencia. After 14 defeats and six draws against blaugranes, Marcelino finally broke his duck in his most recent encounter against Barça, winning the final of the 2019 Copa del Rey against Ernesto Valverde's team.
Pochettino, also with just one win as coach
As a player the Argentine faced the blaugranes in the Catalan derby on 13 occasions during his career at Espanyol. The defender was on the losing side in 9 of those matches, drawing three and winning just once.
With his coaching hat on, Pochettino has faced Barça on 11 occasions, winning just once during his time with Espanyol in nine attempts. As Tottenham Hotspur coach his record was one draw and one defeat.
Two coaches who are familiar faces to Barça fans will be desperate to improve their records against beginning on Wednesday in San Mamés when the blaugranes face Athletic Club in La Liga, kick off 9.00pm CET.