Barça-Athletic Club League match guide: schedule, where to watch it and lineups

BarcelonaSecond official match of the season for Hansi Flick's Barça. After the great sensations in the debut against Elche (0-5), the 'Culers' will debut at the Camp Nou this Thursday against Athletic Club de Bilbao (9 p.m.). The German coach has confirmed that he plans to give minutes to Rodri – who would debut with the Barça jersey – while Alejandro Balde will return to the squad after not traveling to Alicante. "The most important thing is that he is 100% committed to us. He is very young and has a lot of potential. He has improved a lot, but he can always improve more," the coach explained at a press conference.

The hours leading up to the match have been marked by the tribute that was to be paid at the Camp Nou to the world champions with Spain: Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsí, Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal and Rodri. Finally, the board of directors led by Joan Laporta has opted to change this recognition for an "act of exaltation of the estelada".

For their part, Athletic Club arrives after falling on the second matchday at home against Sevilla (1-3). The Basque team has started a new project this summer under Edin Terzic after four seasons with Ernesto Valverde on the bench. An error by Unai Simón led to the first goal of the match when the Bilbao players had already been reduced to ten men after the controversial expulsion of Yuri Berchiche. The refereeing committee later acknowledged that they had made a mistake with the red card.

Barça will be without Gavi – who has not yet recovered from the blow received in Elche–, Frenkie de Jong – who is suffering from a tear of the internal lateral ligament of his right knee– and Roony Bardghji – with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee–. On the other hand, Terzic will be without Beñat Prados and Dani Vivian due to injury and Yuri Berchiche due to suspension.

Time and place of the Barça-Athletic Club match

The match will be played this Thursday at 9 p.m. at Camp Nou (Barcelona).

Where to watch today's match (television)

The duel between Catalans and Basques can be watched on television via DAZN. It can also be followed live minute by minute on ARA.

Probable lineups for the match

FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Joan Garcia; Eric Garcia, Christensen, Gerard Martín, Xavi Espart; Marc Bernal, Pedri, Fermín; Lamine Yamal, Gordon and Raphinha.

Athletic Club (4-2-3-1): Unai Simón; Jesús Areso, Aymeric Laporte, Aitor Paredes, Adama Boiro; Beñat Gerenabarrena, Peio Canales; Iñaki Williams, Oihan Sancet, Nico Williams; and Gorka Guruzeta.

Referee: Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias (Madrid Committee) and Jorge Figueroa Vázquez (Andalusian Committee) on VAR.