Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona: La Liga – teams, start, lineups, kickoff time

Bilbao, Spain – Barcelona travel to San Mamés on Saturday night for a 21:00 CET kick-off (20:00 GMT) knowing victory over Athletic Bilbao will restore their four-point cushion at the La Liga summit after Real Madrid trimmed the gap to one with a last-gasp 2-1 win over Celta Vigo on Friday.

The fixture is a rearranged game in hand for the Catalans, who have 26 matches played and remain unbeaten in their last 12 league meetings with the Basques, winning ten, scoring 26 and conceding only five since a 2019 defeat at this venue.

Coach Hansi Flick, however, must cope with a lengthening casualty list. Defenders Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde were added to the treatment table during Tuesday’s 3-0 Copa del Rey semifinal second-leg success over Atlético Madrid, a result that nevertheless fell four goals short of overturning the tie. Midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Gavi remain unavailable, yet top scorer Robert Lewandowski has been passed fit.

“These things happen. I’m not happy,” Flick told reporters on Friday. “We have to talk about what we can improve. That is always my responsibility … But we’re optimistic. This gives other players the opportunity to show how good they are.”

Athletic, ninth in the table, arrive wounded as well. Centre-back Yeray Álvarez is suspended, while wingers Nico Williams and Maroan Sannadi, midfielders Benat Prados and Unai Egiluz are all injured. Ernesto Valverde’s side were beaten 1-0 by Real Sociedad last time out and have scored only once in their last eight league clashes with Barcelona.

January’s Spanish Super Cup semifinal still stings: Raphinha’s double propelled Barça to a 5-0 rout in Riyadh, while Ferran Torres struck twice in a 4-0 league triumph at the Estadi Olímpic in December. Bilbao’s most recent victory over the Blaugrana came in January 2024, a 4-2 Copa del Rey thriller after extra time, courtesy of goals from brothers Iñaki and Nico Williams.

With Madrid applying pressure, Flick stressed perspective: “There’s still a long way to go until the end of May. There are many games left … We need to stay optimistic about the things we can’t change.”

Probable line-ups Athletic Bilbao: Simón; Vivian, Paredes, Laporte, Boiro; Berenguer, Ruiz de Galarreta, Sancet, I. Williams; Guruzeta, Rego.

Barcelona: J. García; Cancelo, Cubarsí, E. García, Martín; Bernal, Pedri; Yamal, Fermín, Raphinha; F. Torres.

Al Jazeera’s live coverage begins at 17:00 GMT, building up to a contest that could prove pivotal in shaping the title race.