FC Barcelona prepare to welcome Athletic Club to the renovated Spotify Camp Nou. The Catalan club will be playing their first game at their home stadium in two and a half years, and it will undoubtedly be a very special occasion.
From a sporting perspective, emerging victorious is of paramount importance to Hansi Flick’s team. It would not only give them three points and take them level with Real Madrid, but it would also set the tone for the upcoming games.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Athletic Club arrive in Barcelona hoping to end a 24-year drought against the Blaugranes. The Basque side last won an away fixture against Barcelona on November 24, 2001, when Isma Urzaiz and Santi Ezquerro scored in a 2-1 triumph.
Since that victory, Athletic have visited Barcelona 28 times across La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Super Cup matches, managing only five draws while suffering 23 defeats, highlighting the difficulty they have faced at the Catalan club’s home ground over more than two decades.
Historically, Athletic have played 115 official matches in Catalonia against Barcelona, including Les Corts, the old Camp Nou, and the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, winning only 20 of them.
While the away streak is daunting, Athletic have historically fared better at their home ground, San Mamés, where they have achieved eight wins and nine draws in 32 meetings against Barcelona since 2001.
The Basque club are a historic Spanish side with a rich history. They operate very differently from most teams around the world, and it is quite a surprise that they have gone so long without an away win over Barcelona.
Even in recent seasons, despite doing well in the league, Barcelona have held the advantage over Ernesto Valverde’s side and will hope to continue that on Saturday. The last thing Barcelona will want is to lose on the night they return to the Camp Nou.
It remains to be seen how the game plays out. With a number of injuries, Hansi Flick has selection headaches ahead of the match, and Barcelona are likely to field a rotated XI. Only time will tell how things unfold.