Hansi Flick’s Barcelona are gearing up for their return to the Spotify Camp Nou as they prepare to host Athletic Club on Saturday.

Barcelona will be looking to make it three straight wins in La Liga when they welcome Athletic Club to the newly refurbished Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday evening in Matchday 13 of La Liga.

The home team might have been a touch inconsistent this season, but they are still very much in the mix for the 2025/26 league title. The reigning La Liga champions are second on the table with 28 points in their 12 outings, having managed nine wins, one draw and two defeats.

The Blaugrana are heading into this fixture on the back of a 4-2 win over Celta Vigo prior to the international break. While it was not their best performance, they did dominate the proceedings and secured all three points with the help of a Robert Lewandowski hat-trick.

Meanwhile, the visitors are seventh on the table with 17 points in their 12 outings, thanks to five wins, two draws and two defeats. After a run of three games without a win in the league, Athletic Club secured all three points against Real Oviedo prior to the break.

While it was not the most clinical performance from them, the Basque outfit did get the job done, and it will certainly give them some confidence. However, going up against Barcelona certainly won’t be easy. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.

Team News & Tactics

Barcelona

Barcelona remain without the services of Pedri and Marc-Andre ter Stegen ahead of the game against Athletic Club. But the majority of their stars are back fit, which is a massive boost for Hansi Flick ahead of their return to Camp Nou.

Flick’s team could line up in a 4-3-3 formation in this fixture, with Joan Garcia taking his place in goal. Eric Garcia and Alejandro Balde should be the full-backs for this one, with Pau Cubarsi pairing up alongside Ronald Araujo in the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Marc Casado will take up the role of a defensive midfielder, while Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez will be in his support in the centre of the park. The trio will look to control the tempo and ensure they dominate the proceedings.

Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford should continue on the flanks, with Raphinha expected to make an appearance off the bench. Having bagged a hat-trick last time out, Robert Lewandowski will continue to lead the line for Barcelona against Athletic Club.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Joan Garcia; Garcia, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Casado, Olmo, Lopez; Yamal, Lewandowski, Rashford

Athletic Club

Ernesto Valverde will be without the services of quite a few first-team stars. Inaki Williams, Unai Egiluz, and Maroan Sannadi are out injured. Yeray Alvarez is serving a suspension, while Oihan Sancet is a major doubt. Benat Prados is out for the entire campaign following a ligament injury.

The visitors will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Unai Simon will be in goal. Yuri Berchiche and Andoni Gorosabel will feature as the full-backs, while Aymeric Laporte will pair up with Dani Vivian in the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Mikel Jauregizar will pair up with Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta in the double pivot in the middle of the pitch. The duo will look to shield the backline and ensure the Barcelona midfielders do not dominate the proceedings.

Nico Williams and Alejandro Berenguer will feature on the flanks, providing width to their attacks. Finally, Oihan Sancet will take up the number ten role behind Gorka Guruzeta, who will spearhead the Athletic Club attack against Barcelona this weekend.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Simon; Berchiche, Laporte, Vivian, Gorosabel; Jauregizar, Ruiz de Galarreta; Nico Williams, Sanchez, Berenguer; Guruzeta

Key Stats

• Barcelona are all set to return to Camp Nou after a 909 days long wait.
• Athletic Club have lost each of their last three meetings against Barcelona.
• The Catalan giants have the best attack in the league, having bagged 32 goals in their 12 outings.
• The Basque club have only won two out of their last ten meetings against Camp Nou, both those wins came in the Copa del Rey and after extra time.
• Hansi Flick’s team have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 10 outings.

Player to Watch

Robert Lewandowski

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Despite being 37, Lewandowski is still performing at the highest level. The Polish international remains an integral part of Hansi Flick’s plans, and he has been on fire since returning to full fitness.

In his 449 minutes of first-team action spread across nine league outings, Lewandowski has bagged seven goals. The veteran striker is heading into this one on the back of a hat-trick in their last outing prior to the break, and he will be eager to carry on in similar fashion.

Prediction

Barcelona 3-0 Athletic Club

Barcelona’s long-awaited return to Camp Nou should provide the perfect backdrop for another strong performance as they look to make it three league wins on the bounce. Hansi Flick’s men have shown flashes of real attacking fluidity in recent weeks, and with Robert Lewandowski in red-hot form after his hat-trick against Celta Vigo, the hosts will fancy their chances of breaking down an Athletic Club side missing key players.

The visitors may have returned to winning ways before the break, but this is an entirely different challenge, especially given their long list of absentees. While Ernesto Valverde’s side usually bring intensity and organisation, their depleted squad and patchy away record make this a difficult assignment. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for Hansi Flick and his charges.