PREVIEW | FC Barcelona v Athletic Club

Following a major setback in El Clásico, FC Barcelona’s Liga challenge got right back on track on Thursday with a 3-0 defeat of Villarreal at Spotify Camp Nou.

Just three days later and the stadium is the venue for another vital clash in the competition, with Athletic Club the visitors in one of the oldest fixtures in Spanish football.

It’s going to be a special occasion because the game offers the chance to give a warm welcome back to the coach who guided the team to two league titles and the Copa del Rey. Ernesto Valverde, coach at Barça from 2017 to 2020, returned to Bilbao in the summer for his third stint in charge of The Lions, who have got off to a decent start in 2022-23, currently in sixth place and unbeaten away from home.

Valverde has a tough task ahead of him. Athletic have not won at Barça’s ground since 2001-02, the winner scored by former Barça man Ezquerro. In 20 visits since then, Barça have won 17 and tied just three, most recently a 1-1 draw in 2018. The Barça manager that day? Ernesto Valverde!

Barça go into the game six points adrift of Real Madrid after the all-whites defeated Sevilla 3-1 on Saturday. A win against the Basques would narrow the gap back down to three, and also put some space between Barça and third-placed Real Sociedad, who lost 1-0 in Valladolid.

Team news

There have been plenty of injury problems in the Barça defence of late, but things are gradually returning to normal, although Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo are still unavailable. Up front, Memphis is also side-lined but otherwise Xavi has a full squad to choose from.

Xavi says

“Athletic will be tactically different and I’ll make changes to deal with a physical opponent. We were looking a video today of ways to attack and defend against them. They have good centre backs like Yeray, and Íñigo is world class, they’re get the ball out well and are strong in the air.”

“The defence was good against Villarreal and we took the right risks, took players on. This is looking more like the team I want. But we have always competed well, even when the results weren’t working out. Perfection is impossible, but we want to get as close as we can.”

“We appreciate what Valverde did here. He’s a spectacular coach. Faultless. He set an example and did an excellent job at Barça. He is more attack-minded than Marcelino, so I expect them to come at us.”

Did you know?

Iñaki Williams has played an extraordinary 243 consecutive games for Athletic. In six years, the striker has not missed a single match, not through injury, not through suspension, and despite playing under six different coaches, he has not been dropped or rested once. Athletic’s top goalscorer so far this season with four will be representing Ghana at the forthcoming World Cup. However, his brother Nico Williams, another of the most dangerous components of the Basque squad, is in line to play for Spain.

FC Barcelona have yet to concede a Liga goal at Spotify Camp Nou this season. Five sides have come here and failed to find the target. Will Athletic be the sixth?

Robert Lewandowski’s 11 goals in the first ten games of the season is the biggest tally since Leo Messi scored 12 by this same stage in 2017-18.