Barça–Athletic: Return to Camp Nou against Nico Williams?

FC Barcelona now knows the schedule for one of the matches marked in red on the calendar: the Barça–Athletic Club match of matchday 13 of LaLiga EA Sports will be played on Saturday, November 22 at 16:15. The match arrives with sporting incentives and a key institutional context: the possible reopening of the Spotify Camp Nou.

Return to Spotify Camp Nou? Phase 1B is the key

The City Council granted the first occupancy license for phase 1A (partial opening), but Barça has chosen not to reopen the Camp Nou until phase 1B is available (≈45,000 seats), prioritizing safety, fan experience, and economic impact over a too-small capacity.

The window of opportunity points to mid-November, but the club has not yet confirmed a venue for this match. Consequently, the return could coincide with the Barça–Athletic game if the 1B license is formalized in time and the technical tests go perfectly. If not, the team would remain in Montjuïc until further notice.

Nico Williams: The signing that wasn't and the reunion

Nico Williams' destiny could have been different, but the attacker renewed with Athletic, securing his future and making any operation more expensive. In the summer there were contacts between Félix Tainta (agent) and Deco to explore possibilities, but the extension of the Spanish international's contract closed that path and increased the intrigue for matches like this.

For Barça, Nico fit the bill due to his speed, ability to get past players, and the number of crosses he puts in from the left. For Athletic, his staying has been a declaration of intent in sporting and emotional terms. The match will therefore offer a direct showcase of the Navarran winger against a demanding Azulgrana defense.

Rashford Breaks Through on Barça's Left Flank

Finally, Barça strengthened their squad with Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United, with an option to buy at the end of the season. His adaptation is proving positive, and he already has a notable offensive output in league and European minutes, contributing threat in space, striking ability, and inside play.

The winger can alternate between the extreme and internalization to attack intervals between the flank and the center, something that fits with the profiles of Raphinha and Lamine Yamal on the opposite side.

• Informative note: The date and time of the match are confirmed; the designation of the stadium depends on the phase 1B license and has not been officialized by the club at the time of publishing this news.