FC Barcelona and Athletic Club face each other this Saturday in LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26 at Spotify Camp Nou (16:15 CEST), for the thirteenth matchday of the tournament. Hansi Flick's team arrives with three players out due to injury and one due to suspension, in addition to the last-minute doubt of Marcus Rashford.

We review the possible starting lineup, the substitute bench, and the injured and suspended players for Hansi Flick's Barcelona for the match against Athletic. Complete analysis!

Possible Barça starting XI against Athletic

  1. (#13, P) Joan García
  2. (#23) Jules Koundé
  3. (#24) Eric García
  4. (#05) Pau Cubarsí
  5. (#03) Alejandro Balde
  6. (#17) Marc Casadó
  7. (#20) Dani Olmo
  8. (#16) Fermín López
  9. (#10) Lamine Yamal
  10. (#07) Ferran Torres
  11. (#09) Robert Lewandowski

Barça Bench (substitute players)

  1. (#25, G) Szczesny
  2. (#31, G) Diego Kochen
  3. (#04) Ronald Araujo
  4. (#11) Raphinha
  5. (#14) Marcus Rashford
  6. (#15) Andreas Christensen
  7. (#18) Gerard Martín
  8. (#22) Marc Bernal
  9. (#26) Jofre Torrents
  10. (#27) Dro Fernández
  11. (#28) Roony Bardghji
  12. (#29) Toni Fernández

Injured Barça Players

  1. (#01, GK) Marc-André ter Stegen
  2. (#06) Gavi
  3. (#08) Pedri

Sanctioned Barça players:

  1. (#21) Frenkie de Jong

Flick's Possible Surprises and Tactical Variations Against Athletic

In principle, Hansi Flick plans to make up to four changes to his XI from matchday 12 against Celta (2-4), with Joan García returning to goal instead of Szczesny. Eric García should also return to the center of defense alongside Pau Cubarsí, while Jules Koundé will be the right-back. Furthermore, Ferran Torres could take the place of Rashford, who has been absent from the last two training sessions.

Goalkeepers and defense

  • Joan García will be in goal, while Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde would be the full-backs. In the center of defense, Eric García must partner Pau Cubarsí, with Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen awaiting their chance on the bench, as will Jofre Torrents and Gerard Martín.

Midfield:

  • As a pivot, Marc Casadó is set to be Dani Olmo's partner in midfield, while Fermín López would once again be the team's attacking midfielder. Marc Bernal should get minutes in the second half. Frenkie de Jong is out due to suspension and Pedri remains injured.

Forward:

  • In attack, Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres would complete the Blaugrana attack alongside Robert Lewandowski. The Pole is coming off a hat-trick against Celta, while the 'Shark' would take Rashford's place. The Englishman is doubtful due to a fever. Raphinha returns after a month out. Bardghji and 'Dro' could get minutes in the second half.

Barça Absences: Which Players Will Miss the Match Against Athletic Due to Injury?

Pedri González KO: Barcelona medical report confirms his injury

A total of three Barça players will be confirmed absentees due to physical problems. The club is still awaiting the return of Pedri González, who remains out with a left thigh injury. The Canary Islander hopes to be available against Chelsea, while Joan García and Raphinha have been medically cleared

The goalkeeper will start instead of Szczesny, as Flick confirmed in the pre-match press conference. Rapha, on the other hand, will play 15-20 minutes in the second half. Rashford could remain on the bench as a precaution. Frenkie, on the other hand, is serving a one-match ban after receiving two yellow cards against Celta.

Gavi, on the other hand, underwent arthroscopy and, in the end, they had to operate on the medial meniscus of his right knee. Because of this, the '6' will be out for between four and five months, with February 2026 being the tentative date for his return. The latest absence is Ter Stegen, who will be out of action, at least, until the end of November or the beginning of December

Possible Athletic lineup against Barcelona

  • Probable XI: Unai Simón; Unai Simón; Gorosabel, Vivian, Laporte, Yuri, De Galarreta, Jauregizar, Unai Gómez, Nico Williams, Sancet y Berenguer.
  • Bench: Padilla (GK), Paredes, Vesga, Guruzeta, Areso, Lekue, Adama, Serrano, Navarro, Izeta, Rego, Selton.
  • Injured: Unai Egiluz, Beñat Prados, Iñaki Williams, Maroan Sannadi.
  • Suspended: None.

For their part, Athletic approaches matchday 13 of LaLiga at a difficult time. Ernesto Valverde's team has only won one of their last four league matches and is dealing with four injured players, with **Iñaki Williams** being the most significant absence due to an adductor problem.

In principle, the Basque team will face Barça with Unai Simón in goal and a defense formed by Gorosabel and Berchiche as full-backs and the Laporte-Vivian pairing in the center. Jauregizar and De Galarreta would remain as pivots, while Oihan Sancet would return as an attacking midfielder.

Above, Nico Williams and Álex Berenguer must accompany Guruzeta. Athletic has gone 24 years without winning in Barcelona and has suffered three defeats in their last five appearances across all competitions. In La Liga, the 'lions' are seventh, with 17 points (9 behind Barça)