Athletic, first challenge in a decisive week for Barça

After the stop of selections, the calendar of the FC Barcelona will not offer grantings and will force to the Barcelona to impose in front of all the obstacles that will cross him on the way. The mission is complicated, as few times, but from this Sunday will have the opportunity to show that the team has with what 'battle' to the end. Fall will go out very expensive and Xavi Hernández is conscious that, in spite of that arrive with a lot of problems, the requirement will not diminish. All the contrary.

Against the Athletic Club, this Sunday from the 21:00 hours (9:00 PM CEST), will begin the big challenges for the Barça. LaLiga Is at stake and, to few days of the Classical, it is necessary to give a hit on the table. Knowingly that the Real Madrid already punctured in his visit to the Seville in Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán and that have opportunity of recortar differences in the classification, are not in conditions to leave happen the 'bullet' against the lions.

Like this they arrive Barça and Athletic to the duel

Although the group of the City Condal has an extensive statistics of triumphs achieved in front of the Basque picture, is impossible to trust. Especially by all the problems with which arrives the Barça. And it is that it is not a lower factor the number of drops that has the team. Sergi Roberto, Frenkie of Jong, Robert Lewandowski, Pedri González and Jules Koundé have remained without opportunities to contest the party while they recover of his physical ailments. Except the one of Reus, all would be headlines in parties of east calibrate.

This supposes that the challenge was maximum for the blaugrana. Will have by in front to a team that always gives the face and poses demanding parties, that in this season has kept the regularity and that it can be an authentic quebradero of head, especially if his extremes achieve spaces to add to the attack. The name of Nico Williams is on the table like the greater danger of the bilbaínos, but is not the only. His brother, Iñaki, or Sancet are able to test the patience of the culés.

The Barça, with doubts for resolving

It does not be necessary to overlook that the Barça, before the stop of selections, came of parties very toneless in which the rivals hurt him with very little. The tie against the Granada and Mallorca, the suffered triumphs against Port wine and Seville... They were proof that Xavi Hernández had to touch his approach and now touches to expect to see if it has achieved it in these last 14 days of 'rest' in the middle of the date FIFA.

In any case and in spite of the big number of drops that have the Catalans to face the tenth day of LaLiga, andl trainer egarense will have a staff that can be, perfectly, able to impose . This yes, there are doubts on the 'chosen' for the alignment, although it is true that arrive with the just. The presence of Ronald Araújo or Ílkay Gündogan, that grieve have trained this Saturday and that come of two demanding commitments with Uruguay and Germany, respectively, no rest.

Xavi and Valverde, without trusting

In the previous of the clashes, both trainers have left clear that it will be a very complicated duel and in which the errors will not be allowed. In the case of the trainer barcelonista, has aimed that "it is a difficult party. The Athletic is doing a big start, physically is a very gifted block, is a brave team. Valverde Is brave, the pressure does it very high... It is in a good moment, to exception of the derbi. Have drops, but is not an excuse. We need to our people".

By his part, Ernesto Valverde has aimed that "it is a field complicated for the Athletic because the Boat has been the last years fortísimo in his house, but no only for us. A lot of teams take out little punctuation there. The data are by something. No it gives us well out of house by the potential that has. Each party is an opportunity and have to try explode possibilities to achieve the three points. It treats of maximizar ours virtues and minimise his, that keep possession and are very insistent. It is an equipazo and in spite of important drops there is big footballers that will play morning".

Technical index card of the party: FC Barcelona - Athletic Club

• Party: FC Barcelona-Athletic Club
• Competition: LaLiga EA SPORTS
• Stadium: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Compannys (Barcelona)
• Television: Sunday, 22 October 2023 from the 21:00 hours (9:00 PM CEST)
• Calendar 2023-2024: LaLiga, Glass of Rey, Champions League and Supercopa of Spain.