The League returns after the break due to the commitments of the national teams and does so with a classic of Spanish football. The Olímpic Lluís Companys stadium hosts this Sunday, October 22, the match between Barcelona and Athletic, a duel corresponding to the tenth day of the domestic competition between two rivals located at the top of the standings.
Barça, the only team that has not known defeat, resumes the League from third position in the table with 21 points (with a balance of six wins and three draws), one point behind Girona and three behind the leader, Real Madrid. For its part, Athletic arrives in Barcelona installed in fifth place with 17 points after five wins, two draws and as many defeats.
Xavi Hernández’s men are looking to get even on the Montjuic mountain for the draw signed in Girona just before the break and continue to hunt for the lead. The main problem for the Blaugranas is in the infirmary, crowded this week with injured players with discomfort: Jules Koundé, Alejandro Balde, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal and Sergi Roberto, the last to join the list of casualties due to a soleus injury.
Of that entire group, only Yamal and Balde could have minutes this Sunday. But we also look beyond the match against the Basques, since the next round will be the Clásico against Madrid, a duel in which Xavi hopes to recover Pedri, Raphinha and Lewandowski.
On the part of the lions, Ernesto Valverde recovers Nico Williams, Mikel Vesga and Íñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, key men in the good start of the season for the Bilbao team. On the other hand, Yeray Álvarez’s injury reduces the defense, since Valderde only has two centre-backs available, Dani Vivian and Aitor Paredes.
To prolong the good feelings that Athletic is leaving, where on the last day they beat Almería by a resounding 3-0, the team will have to put an end to a disastrous streak, since the Basques have not won at Barcelona’s home since 2001, while the last tie occurred in 2018.
The Valencian referee Juan Martínez Munuera is the designated referee for Barcelona-Athletic.
The match between Barcelona and Athletic, corresponding to matchday 10 of the League, will be played this Sunday, October 22, at the Olímpic Lluís Companys starting at 9:00 p.m. The meeting can be followed live on television through the Dazn platform. Likewise, everything that happens in the duel between Blaugranas and Leones can be followed live on EL MUNDO.
