Athletic Bilbao to Face Barcelona in La Liga Match

Barcelona Returns to La Liga Action on Saturday After Copa del Rey Defeat

Athletic Bilbao will host Barcelona in a crucial La Liga match at San Mames Stadium on Saturday. The match is part of Barcelona’s return to league action after their semifinal loss in the Copa del Rey.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick expressed confidence that his team can overcome injuries and maintain their lead over Real Madrid. Midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Gavi are currently sidelined, but striker Robert Lewandowski is expected to participate.

Athletic Bilbao’s recent 2-1 win over Celta Vigo has narrowed the gap between the two teams. Barcelona’s game against Bilbao marks an important opportunity for them to maintain their position at the top of La Liga.

Injuries have affected both teams, with Barcelona suffering losses to defenders Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde during their Copa del Rey semifinal match. The team is also dealing with injuries to midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Gavi.

Flick acknowledged that managing his team’s health will be a challenge but expressed optimism about the team’s performance. He stated, “These things happen. I’m not happy… We have to talk about what we can improve.”

Barcelona has a strong record against Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, with an unbeaten streak of 12 matches. The team has won 10 of their last eight matches against Bilbao, scoring 26 goals and conceding only five.

The match is scheduled for Saturday at 9pm GMT, with Al Jazeera providing live coverage starting at 5pm GMT.

Source: Al Jazeera