The Spanish La Liga campaign restarts with a deeply significant fixture as Barcelona hosts Athletic Club for Matchday 13. Scheduled for Saturday, November 22, 2025, this match marks a momentous occasion: Barcelona’s return to a partially renovated Spotify Camp Nou after over two years of playing at other venues.
Coach Hansi Flick’s side, currently sitting in 2nd position, three points behind leaders Real Madrid, needs a victory in this homecoming fixture to maintain pressure at the top of the title race. Athletic Club, managed by former Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde, is having a mixed season, currently in 7th position. The Lions will look to spoil the celebratory atmosphere at Camp Nou, drawing on their resilient defensive organization and quality in key attacking areas, aiming for a crucial win to boost their European qualification hopes.
Match Details
This Saturday evening clash sees a major emotional moment for Barcelona fans as the team returns to its traditional home stadium.
| Detail | Information |
| Competition | La Liga |
| Phase | Matchday 13 (Regular Season) |
| Date | Saturday, November 22, 2025 |
| Kick-off | 4:15 PM CET (3:15 PM GMT) |
| Venue | Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain (Limited Capacity) |
Team Form and Analysis for Barcelona
La Liga Performance and High-Scoring Form
Barcelona currently sits in 2nd position in the La Liga table with 28 points from 12 matches, a strong record of nine wins, one draw, and two losses.
The Blaugrana enter the match in good domestic form, having won three of their last five matches, including a crucial 4-2 away victory against Celta Vigo in their last La Liga outing, spurred by a Robert Lewandowski hat-trick. However, their campaign has been hampered by defensive fragility; the team has conceded 15 goals in 12 matches and has not kept a clean sheet in their last nine games across all competitions. Coach Hansi Flick is dealing with significant midfield absences, as Pedri and Gavi are both injured, and Frenkie de Jong is suspended. First-choice goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is also out. Despite the injuries, the team’s attack remains prolific, scoring 17 goals in their last five matches. The emotional return to the Camp Nou is expected to provide a major psychological boost and drive the team to dominate possession and secure a winning homecoming.
Key Player: Robert Lewandowski
Striker Robert Lewandowski is the undisputed focal point of the Barcelona attack and remains one of the most clinical finishers in world football. The veteran Polish forward recently rediscovered his best form, netting a crucial hat-trick in the victory against Celta Vigo. Against a highly organized Athletic Club defence, Lewandowski’s penalty box intelligence, physical presence, and ability to convert half-chances will be absolutely vital. He will be responsible for translating Barcelona’s expected dominance in possession into decisive goals, leading the attack alongside young talents like Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres.
Team Form and Analysis for Athletic Club
La Liga Campaign and Defensive Focus
Athletic Club currently sits in 7th position in the La Liga table with 17 points from 12 matches, a record of five wins, two draws, and five losses.
The Lions have endured an inconsistent season under manager Ernesto Valverde, currently falling below the European qualification places after finishing fourth last season. They ended a three-game losing streak with a recent 1-0 victory over Real Oviedo in their last match, showcasing a return to their typically solid defensive organization. Athletic’s primary challenge lies in their away form, and they will be without captain and key forward Iñaki Williams due to a hamstring injury, which is a major blow to their attacking strategy. However, the return of attacking players Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet from training will boost the squad. Valverde will likely employ a pragmatic 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on a strong central midfield pairing and relying on quick transitions and the pace of Nico Williams to exploit any spaces behind Barcelona’s aggressive full-backs.
Key Player: Nico Williams
Winger Nico Williams is the most explosive attacking threat for Athletic Club, and his influence becomes even more vital in the absence of his brother, Iñaki. The young Spanish international possesses electric pace, exceptional dribbling skills, and a growing ability to deliver both goals and assists. Against Barcelona’s high defensive line and often-exposed full-backs, Nico Williams will be the key outlet for Athletic’s counter-attacks. His individual battle with the Barcelona defence could be a decisive factor in whether the Lions can manage to disrupt the home team’s rhythm and create genuine scoring opportunities.
Head-to-Head Record between the Teams
Barcelona holds a powerful historical advantage in this fixture, particularly in La Liga, showcasing long-standing dominance over the Basque side.
| Metric | Barcelona Wins | Draws | Athletic Club Wins |
| Total La Liga Meetings | 96 | 32 | 60 |
| Last Meeting (May 2025) | Athletic Club 0-3 Barcelona (A) | ||
| Barça’s Home PL Record vs Athletic | 20 wins in last 23 matches |
Barcelona possesses a comprehensive historical advantage in La Liga meetings, securing 96 wins compared to Athletic Club’s 60. More recently, Barcelona has been highly dominant, winning nine of the last eleven encounters across all competitions and securing a comfortable 3-0 victory in the last league meeting in May 2025. Crucially, Barcelona has a phenomenal record against Athletic at home, remaining undefeated in their last 29 home matches against them in all competitions. Athletic’s last victory against Barcelona in La Liga came in 2019, underscoring the formidable challenge they face at the Camp Nou.
Players to Watch
Barcelona
- Lamine Yamal (Forward): The dynamic young forward is one of the brightest prospects in world football. His electrifying pace, creativity, and fearless attacking mindset on the right wing make him a constant threat. His skill will be essential for breaking down Athletic’s organized wide defence.
- Ronald Araújo (Defender): The vice-captain and central defender is the bedrock of the Barcelona defence. His speed, aerial dominance, and physical strength will be vital for managing the counter-attacking threat of Nico Williams and ensuring the team maintains a high defensive line.
Athletic Club
- Oihan Sancet (Attacking Midfielder): A creative and energetic presence in the final third, Sancet is key to unlocking defences. His ability to link midfield and attack, along with his capacity to score from outside the box, will be crucial for challenging the makeshift Barcelona midfield.
- Aymeric Laporte (Defender): The experienced central defender provides calmness and tactical awareness in the heart of the defence. His positioning and exceptional passing range will be vital, both for organizing the low block and launching quick attacks into the channels for the Williams brothers.
Prediction
Barcelona enters this emotional homecoming match as the heavy favourite, despite significant injuries. The atmosphere at the reopened Camp Nou, combined with the momentum from their recent high-scoring performances and the clear historical dominance in this fixture, gives them a powerful advantage. Athletic Club will be organized and difficult to break down, with Nico Williams posing a real threat on the counter. However, Barcelona’s need for three points to stay in the title race, coupled with Robert Lewandowski’s return to form, should be enough to secure a hard-fought victory. The likelihood of both teams scoring is high due to Barcelona’s defensive weaknesses and Athletic’s reliance on quick breaks.
Score Prediction: Barcelona 2-1 Athletic Club
Live Stream and TV Broadcast Information
This highly anticipated La Liga match is scheduled for broadcast across various platforms globally.
The match kicks off at 4:15 PM CET (3:15 PM GMT). In Spain, the match will be broadcast live on Movistar LaLiga.
In the United States (US), the match will be available to watch and stream live on ESPN+ and associated platforms like ESPN Deportes and FuboTV.
Check local TV and streaming listings in other regions, as the match will be shown across La Liga’s international broadcast partners globally.
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