Barcelona returns to the Camp Nou this Saturday to face Athletic Club in the 13th round of LaLiga. This match marks their homecoming after over two years of stadium renovations.
The Blaugrana aim to secure a win to close the gap with the league leaders, Real Madrid. Barcelona bounced back well after their Clásico loss, winning 3-1 against Elche and drawing 3-3 with Club Brugge in the Champions League.
Barcelona’s last outing was a convincing 4-2 away victory against Celta de Vigo. However, the lineup will see changes due to Frenkie De Jong’s suspension following a red card in the previous match. This could impact their midfield dynamics significantly.
Athletic Club has experienced an inconsistent season with fluctuating form. They are currently 7th with 17 points, aiming for a stronger standing to secure European competition. The Basque side recently snapped a losing streak by defeating Real Oviedo at home.
Their previous three matches included three losses, notably a Champions League defeat to Newcastle. Athletic’s squad will look to capitalize on Barcelona’s transitional phase to claim points on the road.
Possible Lineups for Barcelona vs Athletic Club
- Barcelona: Joan García; Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsí, Èric Garcia, Jules Koundé; Marc Casadó, Dani Olmo, Fermín López; Marcus Rashford, Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal.
- Athletic Club: Unai Simón; Yuri Berchiche, Aymeric Laporte, Dani Vivian, Andoni Gorosabel; Mikel Jauregizar, Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Oihan Sancet; Nico Williams, Álex Berenguer, Gorka Guruzeta.
The match will kick off on Saturday, 22 November, at 9:15 AM local Mexico City time and 10:15 AM Eastern Time. It will be held at the Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona’s renovated stadium.
Fans can watch the game on Sky Sports in Mexico and via ESPN Deportes and the ESPN app in the United States. Both teams are motivated to earn three points; Barcelona to tighten their title race and Athletic to climb the standings.
