Match Pack: FC Barcelona vs Athletic Club (LaLiga MD11)

Athletic Club take on FC Barcelona at the Spotify Camp Nou, our second consecutive match away from San Mamés. After last Tuesday's draw against Getafe CF, the Lions will be looking to secure a victory which will allow them to maintain their place among the teams gunning for Europe.

Still unbeaten away from home, Los Rojiblancos know they will have to be at their best to get a positive result against one of most successful clubs in the history of the sport. This is a LaLiga staple, two of the three sides to have never tasted anything but top-flight football face off for the 183rd time in the competition.

Match Info
FC Barcelona vs Athletic Club (Matchday 11)

Spotify Camp Nou (Barcelona)

LaLiga Santander 22/23

Sunday October 23, 21:00 CEST

How to Watch

Check out our comprehensive guide of LaLiga TV operators and kick-off times around the world to make sure you don't miss the fixture.

Team News

With a fully-fit squad at his disposal, Ernesto Valverde has called these 23 players for the fixture. Winger Jon Morcillo is brought back into the fold, while Ander Capa and Asier Villalibre miss out on selection.

Valverde's comments

Catch up with everything the Gaffer had to say at his press conference.

The Opponents

Head coach: Xavi Hernández
One of the most revered midfielders of a generation, who spent almost his entire playing career at Barça, Xavi Hernández, 42, ruled the middle of the park at the Camp Nou for around 17 years.

In that time he made 767 total appearances and won eight LaLiga titles, three Copas del Rey and four Champions Leagues in addition to a host of other titles, including a World Cup and two European Championships with the Spanish national team.

After seeing out his playing days with four seasons at Qatari club Al Sadd, Xavi stepped into management with the same side in May 2019. He went back to Barça in November last year, taking over from Ronald Koeman. The Catalans were eighth in the table when Xavi arrived, but ended the season in second place.

New signings:
Xavi took the opportunity to refresh the side and there were a lot of comings and goings in the summer.

In: Raphinha (winger, from Leeds), Jules Koundé (centre-back, from Sevilla), Robert Lewandowski (forward, from Bayern Munich), Franck Kesslé (midfielder, from AC Milan), Andreas Christensen (centre-back, from Chelsea), Hector Bellerin (right-back, from Arsenal) and Marcos Alonso (left-back, from Chelsea).

Out: Philippe Coutinho (winger, to Aston Villa), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (forward, to Chelsea), Francisco Trincão (winger, loaned to Sporting CP), Miralem Pjanic (midfielder, to Sharjah FC), Riqui Puig (midfielder, to LA Galaxy), Óscar Mingueza (centre-back, to Celta Vigo), Martin Braithwaite (forward, to RCD Espanyol), Neto (goalkeeper, to AFC Bournemouth), Dani Alves (right-back, to UNAM Pumas), Nico Gonzalez (midfielder, loaned to Valencia CF), Sergiño Dest (right-back, loaned to AC Milan), Clement Lenglet (centre-back, loaned to Tottenham Hotspur), Ez Abde (winger, loaned to CA Osasuna), Alex Collado (winger, loaned to Elche CF) and Samuel Umtiti (centre-back, loaned Lecce).

Recent form: WWWLW
Barça, second in the league, have won eight out of 10 so far this season. Their only loss came in last week's El Clasico, going down 3-1 to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. Apart from that, an opening day draw against Rayo Vallecano is the only other time Xavi's side have dropped points in LaLiga Santander.

Their most recent match was a 3-0 home victory over Villarreal CF, Lewandowski (x2) and Ansu Fati were on the scoresheet, with all three goals coming in the first half.

Previous Meetings
The sides' first ever LaLiga clash saw Athletic win 5-1 at San Mamés in 1929. Sunday's match will be the 183rd encounter between two teams who have never met outside the top flight.

 As for the 91 matches played in Barcelona throughout that times, Athletic have registered 17 wins, 10 draws and 64 defeats.

Los Leones' recent results at the Spotify Camp Nou reflect their historical struggles at the stadium, with four defeat and one draw in the last five years.

In 2018/19, the Lions looked set to pick up a rare win in Catalonia when Markel Susaeta and Óscar de Marcos combined for the latter to volley in at the far post five minutes before half-time. Athletic withstood Barça's attacks for most of the second half, Unai Simón pulling off some crucial saves. But in the 84th minute, Lionel Messi found Munir El-Haddadi in the box, who prodded in the equaliser.