La Liga's second matchday on 27 August 2026 brings defending champions Barcelona against Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou and it arrives with the two sides in very different shape. Barcelona sit top after a 5-0 win over Elche on 23 August, while Athletic are pointless following a 1-3 defeat to Sevilla on 22 August, a result made worse by an early red card that left Edin Terzic's side playing the better part of the game with ten men and a squad already thinner than ideal. A win here would put some distance between Barcelona and the chasing pack, for Athletic, a second defeat so early in the campaign would be damaging.
Flick has been at Barcelona since summer 2024, when he replaced Xavi, whereas Terzic only took over at Athletic this summer following Ernesto Valverde's departure - and they have met just once before, when Terzic was in the Dortmund dugout and Flick's side came out on top. On the injury and suspension front, Barcelona are without Frenkie de Jong (knee ligament), Gavi and Roony Bardghji, which forces midfield adjustments, though Rodri - signed from Manchester City and returning from back surgery - could make his debut here as a disciplined anchor in the middle. Athletic have it worse: Yuri Berchiche serves a suspension from his red card against Sevilla, while Unai Eguiluz, Dani Vivian and Nico Serrano are all ruled out through injury. Losing Berchiche's overlap on the left and Vivian's presence at the back makes an already difficult away trip considerably harder.
Barcelona's 4-2-3-1 is designed around a press that activates the moment the opponent plays out from the back, with positional fluidity letting Lamine Yamal and Raphinha exchange channels. Without de Jong's carrying ability from deep or Gavi's engine in tight spaces, Pedri takes on more of the tempo setting responsibility than usual and Rodri's potential debut matters because it would give the front three more licence to rotate without midfield losing its shape. Lamine Yamal is the main creator on the right dribbling past full backs and finding pockets between the lines, while Raphinha operates on the left with a tendency to cut inside and combine in the half spaces. Athletic will likely set up in the same 4-2-3-1 to stay compact and look for moments from set pieces. The Williams brothers - both quick enough to run in behind a high line - are Athletic's clearest danger on the break and Oihan Sancet links the lines effectively when Athletic have the ball. The problem is that losing Berchiche removes a reliable overlapping option from left back, narrowing their attacking angles and putting more organisational pressure on Aymeric Laporte at the back.
The individual battles will shape the result and Yamal against Athletic's reconfigured right side looks like the most likely source of Barcelona goals, especially if Athletic drop into a low block and leave one on one situations out wide. Pedri's ability to control proceedings against Sancet will determine whether Barcelona sustain pressure or whether Athletic get the breathing room they need to threaten on the break. The mismatch in squad depth is real: Barcelona can rotate and maintain intensity across 90 minutes, Athletic are already stretched before a ball has been kicked.
Barcelona have won the last six meetings between the sides, with Athletic failing to score in five of those. Their most recent encounter ended 0-1 to Barcelona at San Mamés on 7 March 2026 and Athletic's last win at the Camp Nou dates all the way back to 2001. Set pieces may be Athletic's best route to goal since sustaining pressure in open play will be beyond them. Laporte is a threat in the air, though Barcelona have become better organised at dead balls under Flick. Going the other way, they will attack through Yamal and Raphinha, using crosses and cut backs to create chances inside the box. Barcelona carry a 36 match La Liga unbeaten run into this.
3-0 to Barcelona. Athletic's defensive absences are severe, Barcelona's attacking options remain strong despite their own injury issues and the history between these sides points one way. Three without reply.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
