On Saturday, Athletic Club will be a part of a historic occasion as they will become the first opponent to face FC Barcelona at the redeveloped Spotify Camp Nou.
The Blaugrana spent more than two years away from their iconic venue while renovation works were carried out, and will finally make their return on 22 November, Saturday, with a La Liga fixture vs Athletic.
Athletic Club winless away to Barcelona in over two decades
Ahead of the grand reopening of the Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona will go in as favourites to win, considering the disappointing record that Athletic Club have in their away La Liga games against the Catalans.
Indeed, the Basque club have not beaten Barcelona in their stadium in a league match for 24 years, a period in which they have suffered 20 defeats and managed only three draws.
Spotify Camp Nou, FC Barcelona stadium
Barcelona will face Athletic Club on the Camp Nou reopening. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Furthermore, Los Leones boss Ernesto Valverde has never won at Barcelona in the league as a visiting coach.
This is Athletic’s longest winless away run against any opponent in the Spanish top flight, ahead of their streaks against Real Madrid (20 matches without a win), Atletico Madrid (14) and Real Sociedad (9).
The last away win for Athletic Club against Barcelona dates back to 24 November 2001, when the team coached by Jupp Heynckes won 1-2 after Santi Ezquerro broke the 1-1 draw in the 80th minute.
The three draws were the 2-2 in the 2002-03 season, and two 1-1 results in 2003-04 and 2018-19.
Across all visits to Catalonia – the old Estadi del FC Barcelona, the old Camp Nou and Montjuic, there have been 115 matches, with a result of 81 defeats for the visitors, 14 draws and 20 victories.