Athletic Club vs FC Barcelona: Confirmed Lineups - News in the Champion's XI!

Published New:25/05/2025 - 20:14h

Updated New:25/05/2025 - 20:17h

CONFIRMED LINEUPS! Discover the starting XIs for Athletic and Barça for matchday 38 of LaLiga. Hansi Flick makes 3 changes compared to the team against Villarreal

OFFICIAL: The starting lineups of Ernesto Valverde's Athletic Club and Hansi Flick's FC Barcelona for matchday 38 of LaLiga EA Sports 2024/25 have been confirmed. Both teams are making some adjustments to their lineups, with the 'culés' looking to close the season with a victory before going on vacation.

FC Barcelona's starting lineup against Athletic Club

Hansi Flick introduces three changes compared to the XI against Villarreal. Alejandro Balde returns to the left side in place of Gerard Martín, and Ronald Araujo will partner Pau Cubarsí in the center of defense.

However, the main novelty is the return of Iñaki Peña in goal for the first time since matchday 20, against Getafe (1-1). Eric García remains on the right side due to Jules Koundé's absence, with Gavi as pivot.

Similarly, Fermín López continues in midfield, accompanying Pedri, while Lamine Yamal and Raphinha complete the offensive trident alongside Robert Lewandowski.

Barça's starting XI (OFFICIAL):

Tactical note: Eric García is the right-back. Araujo and Cubarsí form as center-backs, and Alejandro Balde is the left-back. Raphinha is the left winger and Lewandowski, center forward, with Lamine on the right. Although many rotations are expected in attack, thanks to the mobility of Fermín López.

(#13, P) Iñaki Peña
(#24) Eric García
(#04) Ronald Araujo
(#02) Pau Cubarsí
(#03) Alejandro Balde
(#06) Gavi
(#08) Pedri
(#16) Fermín López
(#19) Lamine Yamal
(#11) Raphinha
(#09) Robert Lewandowski

Barça's bench (substitute players):

(#01, P) Ter Stegen
(#25, P) Szczesny
(#05) Iñigo Martínez
(#10) Ansu Fati
(#14) Pablo Torre
n
(#15) Andreas Christensen
(#17) Marc Casadó
(#18) Pau Víctor
(#20) Dani Olmo
(#21) Frenkie de Jong
(#32) Héctor Fort
(#35) Gerard Martín

Barça's injured players:

(#07) Ferran Torres
(#23) Jules Koundé
(#28) Marc Bernal

How do Hansi Flick's changes affect Barcelona's scheme?

Hansi Flick makes rotations again, with important adjustments in his defense and goal. We analyze them:

Barça puts out an XI with a majority of starters, looking to close the season with another victory at home. Iñaki Peña returns as starting goalkeeper, while Araujo and Cubarsí will be leaders of the defense, with Eric García and Alejandro Balde on the flanks. Gavi and Pedri direct the center of the field, with Fermín López as attacking midfielder behind the trident formed by Lamine, Raphinha, and Lewandowski.

Goalkeeping and defense:

A starting defense: Eric García returns as right-back due to Jules Koundé's absence. Ronald Araujo will partner Pau Cubarsí in the center of defense. Alejandro Balde is the left-back, with Gerard Martín on the bench.

Midfield:

Gavi remains as pivot alongside Pedri and Frenkie de Jong will be on the bench. Flick also retains Fermín López as attacking midfielder. The player from Huelva comes from scoring in consecutive matchdays against Espanyol and Villarreal.

Attack:

In the offensive trident, Robert Lewandowski will start alongside Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. The Pole seeks to break a streak of five appearances in La Liga without scoring.
The '9' will once again be the area reference and seeks to shake the nets again, something he did for the last time on matchday 29 against Girona (4-1). The experienced striker was out due to injury in four official Barça matches.
Raphinha, again, will be the left winger, with Lamine on the right and Lewandowski as '9'. In the center of the field, Pedri and Fermín will be the creative footballers of the team, giving mobility and clarity to the 'azulgrana' game.

Athletic's starting lineup against FC Barcelona

(#1, P) Unai Simón
(#18) De Marcos
(#14) Unai Núñez
(#4) Aitor Paredes
(#17) Yuri Berchiche
(#23) Mikel Jaureguizar
(#16) Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta
(#20) Unai Gómez
(#7) Alex Berenguer
(#10) Nico Williams
(#21) Maroan Sannadi

Athletic's bench: Agirrezabala (P), Yeray, Vivian, Gorosabel, Vesga, Djaló, Adma, Guruseta Prados, Sancet, Iñaki Williams, Canales.

Athletic, for its part, arrives at the match against Barcelona with all its starters available. Ernesto Valverde's team has already secured its place in the next edition of the UEFA Champions League and arrives at the end of the season with three victories in a row against Alavés, Getafe, and Valencia.

In principle, the 'lions' will try to defeat Barça taking advantage of Iñaki Williams' return in attack. The team will have De Marcos, in his farewell, and Berchiche as full-backs, while Núñez and Paredes are in the center of defense. In midfield, Jaureguizar also returns alongside De Galarreta, with Unai Gómez as attacking midfielder. The wingers are Berenguer and Nico, with Sannadi up front.

'CULÉ' ABSENCES! How do they affect Barça against Athletic?

The injuries of Jules Koundé, Ferran Torres, and Marc Bernal represent an important setback for FC Barcelona in the final stretch of the season.

Below, we detail the individual impact of each absence due to injury on the team.

Jules Koundé (starting right-back)

Jules Koundé, during a Champions League match with Barça

Impact: after playing 86 consecutive matches with the club during the last 12 months, Koundé finally rested on matchday 33 against Mallorca. The Frenchman was the MVP of the Cup final, scoring the winning goal, but he was injured in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Inter Milan last Wednesday. The '23' has 4 goals and 8 assists in 53 matches with Flick's team
Consequences: in principle, Barça has not determined the time of absence of Jules, who suffers a distal injury in the biceps femoris of the left thigh. Flick only has Héctor Fort as a substitute right-back and, in the Champions League, he opted for Eric García as an emergency solution. Ronald Araujo could also be a 'patch' to deal with his absence.

Ferran Torres (center forward/ winger)

Impact: Ferran Torres, the '9' of the team during the absence of Robert Lewanodwski due to injury, may have said goodbye to the season after undergoing surgery on Wednesday, as a result of appendicitis.
Consequences: the 'Shark' was very important in the Blaugrana attack during the absence of 'Lewy', scoring one of the goals in the Cup final against Real Madrid and in the first leg of the 'semis' of Champions against Inter. In addition, he had just broken a record in the last Liga Clásico, with three assists in the first half.

Marc Bernal (Midfielder, central midfielder)

Impact: Bernal, one of the revelations of the youth academy, suffered a serious knee injury (rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament) and says goodbye to the season.
Consequences: His absence deprives the team of a physical and tactical profile that had provided balance and energy in the center of the field. Bernal was a valuable alternative for matches of high physical demand and his absence forces Flick to rely more on experienced players or to advance the progression of other young players.

In summary, the absences of Ferran, Koundé, and Bernal are a minor setback for Flick against Athletic Club. The defensive solidity, the creativity in midfield, and the depth to make rotations in the second half are affected, but the team trusts in the quality of its squad to add the three points at home, with the majority of starters available.