FC Barcelona News: 7 March 2026; All set for crucial La Liga match against Athletic Club, Hansi Flick sets date for Gavi’s return

Barcelona, 7 March 2026 – Under driving rain that has soaked the Catalan capital since Thursday, Hansi Flick put his squad through their final session at Ciutat Esportiva on Friday afternoon, sharpening tactics for tonight’s La Liga summit meeting at San Mamés. Kick-off against Athletic Club is scheduled for 9 p.m. CET, and with the title race tightening, Barça know that only a victory in Bilbao will consolidate their place at the top of the table.

The fixture arrives barely 72 hours after the bruising mid-week exit from the Copa del Rey. A 3-0 quarter-final second-leg win over Atlético Madrid ultimately proved insufficient on aggregate, leaving the league as the only remaining route to domestic silverware. Flick, addressing reporters after training, emphasised the need to “turn the page quickly,” noting that “Athletic are a different team at home” and that the atmosphere in Bilbao’s cathedral of football will test his side’s mental resolve.

One boost for the German coach is the impending return of midfielder Gavi. Although the 21-year-old will not be risked tonight, he will travel with the group to continue his re-integration. Flick confirmed that the Spain international is pencilled in to make his competitive comeback after the upcoming international break at the end of March, a development that could prove pivotal for the season’s run-in.

Elsewhere at the club, Aitana Bonmatí continues to collect global acclaim. The Barça Femení star has been shortlisted for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award, her third consecutive nomination following her 2024 triumph. The winner will be revealed at next month’s ceremony.

With the league lead on the line and the memory of cup elimination still fresh, Barça’s mission in the Basque Country is clear: leave the rain behind in Barcelona and return with three points that would keep their championship destiny firmly in their own hands.