Barcelona, ??with six injured in the infirmary, will try to regain victory against Athletic Club, fifth placed, which has not won in the Catalan capital for 22 years and in the run-up to the classic that Xavi’s team will play on Saturday the 28th. October.
The last four league games have not been easy for the Catalan team, which has added two victories – by the minimum against Celta (3-2) and Sevilla (0-1) – and two draws – both for the same result ( 2-2) against Mallorca and Granada -, in which the Barça team showed a certain defensive fragility. The three draws achieved throughout these first ten dates place the current league champion in fourth position.
The Xavi Hernández-led set faces the duel with the downs of Pedri, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Frenkie de Jong, who are doubts for the upcoming October 28 classic, as well as Jules Koundé and Sergi Roberto.
Ilkay Gündogan, Ronald Araújo – who have rested in the last training session -, Alejandro Balde and Lamine Yamal, who had been suffering from discomfort in recent weeks, do appear on the squad list, will be available against the Basque team.
In the defensive back, Barcelona will bet on Cancelo, Iñigo Martínez, Christensen and Balde. The former Athletic Club player will make his second start in the Barcelona shirt after making his debut in Mallorca to face his former team.
There are also changes in the core. Xavi starts Gündogan, Oriol Romeu and Fermín López, in great form after scoring with the U-21 team. It is his second ownership after starting in Granada.
Above, despite the absences of Lewandowski and Raphinha, Xavi is not betting on Lamine Yamal, who has just become the youngest scorer in the history of Barcelona and the Spanish League thanks to his goal against Granada but who has been week recovering from discomfort. In their place the coach places Ferran Torres João Félix and Gavi. The latter is also in great form after scoring for the senior team.
The FC Barcelona eleven: Ter Stegen; Cancelo, Christensen, Iñigo Martínez, Balde; Gündogan, Oriol Romeu, Gavi, Fermín; Ferran Torres and João Félix.
Héctor Fort (17 years old) awaits on the Barcelona bench. The full-back is being one of Barça Atlètic’s biggest sensations and is making his debut in a call-up with Xavi. He has been a starter in all the games that Rafa Márquez has called up and despite being of youth age, he will already make the jump to the first team after Sergi Roberto’s injury. He has played seven games with the reserve team and, with the youth team, competed in the Youth League and also in a match against Zaragoza on the last day of the honor division league.
The FC Barcelona bench: Iñaki Peña, Astralaga, Araujo, Marcos Alonso, Lamine Yamal, Unai, Marc Guiu and Héctor Fort
Valverde, who led Barça for two and a half seasons (2017-2020) winning four titles, also returns to the Olímpic, the stadium where he led Espanyol for two years (2006-2008).
This time the coach will set foot on Montjuïc to lead an Athletic Club that, with the Williams brothers available and some more recovered players, intends to surprise and establish itself in a European part of the table in which, after the ninth matchday, occupies Europa League position.
During the break, the Bilbao team feared for the participation of the two international brothers. Nico, also involved in rumors about a possible interest from Barça that fuels the fact that he has not yet renewed the contract with Athletic that ends this season, had to return from the Spanish team’s training camp with an injury to his left intercostal muscles.
In Iñaki’s case it was more the concern about the wear and tear of two friendlies in the United States with Ghana and his return this Thursday, with little recovery time for the clash.
Mikel Vesga, the other regular starter in the double pivot along with Galarreta, also seemed on track to be fit tomorrow, but his coach has announced in the preview that he has not yet completed a full training session and has almost ruled him out from starting.
Therefore, Valverde will have to opt for the return of the former Mallorca player, the only signing of the season, or keep the Dani García-Ander Herrera couple, who, although perhaps without the same brilliance as their teammates, have not performed badly either.
He also revealed the ‘Txingurri’ that Yuri Berchiche could not train on Friday due to a blow received, but he trusts to have him.
Likewise, Peru Nolaskoain, absent due to injury since mid-August, has already recovered, which leaves the only safe casualty for tomorrow, along with Vesga, Yeray Álvarez, who underwent surgery this week on an adductor. Nolaskoain aims to fulfill the role of third center back while the one from Barakaldo is injured.
For the rest, everything is certain in an Athletic that has just renewed the young Unai Gómez and that keeps in focus a European classification that, for the moment, has only been questioned by two disappointing defeats against Real Madrid (0-2) and Real Society (3-0). With worse feelings against the white team, in San Mamés the league debut, than in the Reale Arena.
Two lost games that, however, do not tarnish a good start with five wins and two draws that have given them the 17 points they have placed in European positions – now fifth – in which, whatever happens at the Lluís Companys, they will continue after this tenth day.
The Athletic Club eleven: Unai Simón; De Marcos, Vivian, Paredes, Yuri; Dani García, De Galarreta; Iñaki Williams, Sancet, Nico Williams; and Guruzeta.
Referee: Martínez Munuera (Comité Valenciano).
