Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao kicks off on 27 Aug 2026 at 15:00 EST and 20:00 GMT.
Barcelona continues their 2026-27 La Liga title defence against Athletic Bilbao at Camp Nou.
Barca vs Athletic Bilbao match preview
Barca boss Hansi Flick handed starts to Adami, Raphinha, Fermin Lopez, Lamine Yamal and Espart in the champions' opening assignment against Elche, and the Catalans were far too good for their hosts, running out 5-0 winners. Raphinha and Fermin got a pair of goals each, new boy Karim Adeyemi got on the score sheet, and fellow new signing Anthony Gordon provided two assists off the bench. 20-year-old midfielder Gavi limped off with an apparent knee ligament issue, but scans have revealed it's just a bruise and he should be fit.
Getty ImagesAthletic Bilbao suffered a 3-1 defeat to Sevilla in their first game of the new campaign. Their overall form stretching back to last season is worrying; the Basque club has lost four of their last five LaLiga matches. Since the turn of the year, they've only won six in the league.
Getty ImagesWhat have Barca and Bilbao done in the transfer market?
Barcelona won the title last season on 94 points, scoring a remarkable 95 goals in a dominant campaign. They start as clear favourites to retain their crown, and they're not resting on their laurels.
Spain's World Cup Golden Ball winner Rodri is the marquee signing, joining from Man City in a deal worth an initial €60 million. In attack, Anthony Gordon (€70 million), Karim Adeyemi (€22 million) and Jesse Bisiwu (€8.5 million) have all arrived to replace the departed Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford. Bilbao have added Turkish winger Efe Korkut and also re-signed Aymeric Laporte, who was recently with Al Nassr.
Getty ImagesKey stats
- Barca have gone 36 matches without a draw in LaLiga.
- Bilbao have failed to score in their last five meetings with Barca across all competitions and lost six H2Hs on the bounce.
Likely XIs
Barcelona (4231): Garcia; Kounde, Eric Garcia, Martin, Balde; Bernal, Espart; Yamal, Lopez, Gordon; Raphinha.
Bilbao (4231): Simón; Areso, Álvarez, Paredes, Laporte; Gerenabarrena, Canales; Williams, Sancet, Berenguer; Guruzeta.
Team news & squads
Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Probable lineups
Manager
- H. Flick
Hansi Flick is without Roony Bardghji and Frenkie de Jong through injury, while Gavi is also listed as injured after being forced off during Barcelona's 5-0 win over Elche on matchday one. No suspensions affect the Barcelona squad, though no confirmed projected XI is available at this stage. Updates will be added closer to kick-off.
Athletic Bilbao have three injury absentees in Unai Eguiluz, Daniel Vivian, and Nico Serrano. Left-back Yuri Berchiche is suspended and will miss the trip to Camp Nou. Edin Terzic has no confirmed projected XI available yet, and further updates are expected ahead of the match.
Form
Barcelona have won four of their last five matches across all competitions, with their only defeat coming against Udinese in a pre-season friendly. Their most recent outing produced a 5-0 win over Elche in LaLiga, and they also beat Basel 5-2 and Al Ahly SC 2-1 during pre-season. Flick's side scored 13 goals across those five matches and conceded three, reflecting an attack in strong early form.
Athletic Bilbao have won just one of their last five, with that sole victory a 3-0 pre-season win over Burgos CF. Their most recent match ended in a 3-1 LaLiga defeat at Sevilla, and they also lost to Real Zaragoza, Atalanta, and Marseille in the buildup to the new season. Terzic's side conceded eight goals across those five matches while scoring six.
Head-to-Head Record
Head to Head
The most recent meeting between these two clubs came in March 2026, when Barcelona won 1-0 at San Mames in LaLiga. Before that, Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 5-0 in the Super Cup in January 2026 and 4-0 at home in LaLiga in November 2025. Across the last five head-to-head matches, Barcelona have won all five, scoring 11 goals and conceding none.
Standings
In LaLiga, Barcelona currently sit fourth, while Athletic Bilbao are 18th after the opening round of fixtures.