A 'spicy' duel! Flick's Barça debuts at Montjuïc against Nico Williams and Athletic Club

FC Barcelona will face its first 'trial by fire' in front of its fans next Saturday, August 24 at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, when the team managed by Hansi Flick faces Athletic Club in the match corresponding to the second day of the EA Sports LaLiga 2024/25. The ball will start rolling at 7:00 p.m., and it will be the debut of the German's new project in front of the Barcelona fans at Montjuïc.

The Blaugrana squad comes to the match with good feelings after achieving a resounding victory against Valencia in the first round of the league championship. The Catalan team was outplayed in the first half by Rubén Baraja's team, who even opened the scoring in the match. However, the Catalans demonstrated the competitive character that the German is beginning to implant in the squad and, in a display of hierarchy, ended up turning the match around and taking the first three points of the tournament.

The best news for the German coach was the individual performances, as these will eventually boost the collective. An illuminated Robert Lewandowski took the 'reins' and scored the two goals of the victory, Lamine Yamal was constantly incisive on the wing, the duo of the 'Marcs' are beginning to settle in the containment of the midfield and Pau Cubarsí and Jules Koundé were a 'safety' in defence, so the duel against the Bilbao team is presented as an opportunity for these players to make a statement again.

Flick begins to establish his ideal eleven

Hansi Flick has received the good news of the full recovery of Pedri González. The Canary Islander returned to the field of play in the second half of the match against Valencia and the sensations are more than positive, which is why he aims to start against Ernesto Valverde's team. The Tenerife native's place in the starting line-up is even more unquestionable after Ilkay Gündogan left the club to return to Manchester City.

The German's absence is a rather sensitive one for the coach and for the Barça squad, who lose one of their leaders on and off the field, although it will be 'cushioned' by the long-awaited return of the '8', who, almost certainly, will be in charge of distributing the play in the final third. Meanwhile, from the offices of the Spotify Camp Nou they continue to rush the registration of Dani Olmo, whose presence in the match next Saturday is, at the moment, a real question mark.

Thus, it is expected that the former coach of 'Die Mannschaft' will make important changes to his starting line-up with the aim of giving his regulars a chance to play. In goal, Marc-André Ter Stegen is absolutely undisputed and will look to keep a clean sheet for the first time this season, accompanied by the quartet made up of Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo and Balde, who are increasingly established. Casadó and Bernal would once again be the team's mainstay and the attack would be in the hands of the 'lethal' Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha and Lewandowski.

A 'morbid' reunion

The match will have a special flavour for Barcelona and Nico Williams. The Navarrese was the greatest desire of the Blaugrana entity in this transfer market to reinforce the left wing of the team, and when everything pointed to the footballer being put under the orders of Flick this summer, the player seemed to have made an unexpected 'turn' at the last minute and has decided to stay at San Mamés, at least, for one more season.

The failed operation of the youngest of the Williams was a 'blow' for the culé fans, who dreamed of seeing him dressed in blue and red at this time of August. For that reason, intrigue surrounds the possible reception of the Catalan fans to the forward and to Athletic Club itself, which had several 'frictions' from the offices with the Barcelona institution, feeling disrespected by the club's attempts to sign their player.

The precedents favour Barça

Beyond all this, the Catalans arrive as clear favourites for the clash on August 24. In the last four games played between both teams in Barcelona, ​​Barça has a balance of four victories, although in the last two games they have not been able to defeat the Bilbao team, adding a defeat in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey and a draw in the League, both in San Mamés.

While it is true that clashes between the Basques and the Catalans are always full of emotions, this particular duel promises a lot due to the tension between the two teams. "I have played many games at Montjuïc and I assure you that it is not the hottest atmosphere in the world. I do not expect anything special," declared Ernesto Valverde before the match. However, the Barcelona fans will prove otherwise and Hansi Flick and his players will talk about the pitch.

Match details: FC Barcelona vs Athletic Club

• Match: FC Barcelona vs Athletic Club
• Competition: LaLiga EA Sports 2024/25
• Stadium: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (Barcelona)
• Television: Saturday, August 24, 2024 from 7:00 p.m. (19:00 in Spain)

Probable lineups for FC Barcelona-Athletic Club in LaLiga EA SPORTS 2024/2025

• FC Barcelona's XI: Ter Stegen, Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Balde; Bernal, Casadó; Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha y Lewandowski
• Athletic Club's XI: Padilla, Gorosabel, Yeray, Vivian, Yuri; Prados, Vesga, Sancet; Nico Williams, Iñaki Williams y Guruzeta