Hansi Flick claimed he should take the blame for Barcelona’s mounting harm points, forward of their conflict with Athletic Membership.
Flick’s group, who cleared the path in LaLiga, head to Bilbao to tackle Athletic, and former Blaugrana coach Ernesto Valverde, on Saturday.
Nonetheless, they are going to be with out Frenkie de Jong, Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde, who’ve all sustained hamstring accidents previously week.
Gavi and Andreas Christensen are additionally on Barca’s record of absentees.
“It occurs,” Flick mentioned.
“I’m not completely satisfied about that. I mentioned this after the sport. We now have to debate what we are able to make higher. If we’re performing some issues, we have now to analyse it, and make it higher.
“It’s all the time my duty, nobody else. That is what I need to say right here now: not medical employees, not health employees, no, it’s my duty. I handle that.
“If one thing occurs, we communicate, which is what I need to do now, what we should do higher for the long run. It’s managing for a group, typically you make errors, it’s not good, particularly on this second, however we’re considering optimistic.”
Robert Lewandowski, who missed Tuesday’s Copa del Rey conflict with Atletico Madrid attributable to a fractured eye socket, can be match to function in opposition to Athletic.
The group is at a excessive degree and that ought to give us confidence. There’s nonetheless an extended approach to go.
Hansi Flick pic.twitter.com/3HRdJ6aNTk
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 6, 2026
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Athletic Membership – Gorka Guruzeta
Guruzeta has scored 4 of Athletic’s final six LaLiga targets at San Mames and is only one purpose (six targets in 23 appearances) away from equalling his purpose tally from the earlier league marketing campaign (seven targets in 36 video games).
Barcelona – Fermin Lopez
Fermin has offered essentially the most assists in LaLiga in 2026 (5) and has delivered extra assists in 20 league appearances this marketing campaign (seven) than he did in his earlier two seasons mixed (5 purpose involvements in 59 video games).
MATCH PREDICTION: BARCELONA WIN
Valverde has misplaced 15 of the 19 LaLiga matches he has managed for Membership in opposition to Barcelona (W1 D3 L15), his highest variety of defeats in opposition to a single opponent because the Basque membership’s coach within the competitors throughout his profession.
Barcelona are the one group in Europe’s 5 huge leagues but to concede a headed purpose this season; the final such purpose they conceded in LaLiga was scored by Natan for Actual Betis in April 2025.
The Blaugrana have misplaced two of their final three away video games in LaLiga (W1), as many defeats as of their earlier 21 away matches within the competitors (W15 D4 L2).
Athletic are unbeaten of their final 5 video games in LaLiga (W3 D2), after dropping 4 of the earlier 5 (D1). They haven’t gone six or extra with out defeat within the competitors since February 2025 (16 video games, W9 D7).
Barcelona have gained their final 5 conferences in opposition to Athletic in all competitions, scoring 16 targets and conceding only one. Solely as soon as have the Blaugrana loved an extended profitable run in opposition to the Lions, between 1989 and 1992 (10).
Athletic haven’t gained any of their final 12 video games in opposition to Barca in LaLiga (D2 L10), since a 1-0 win in August 2019, and have failed to attain in seven of their final eight conferences in opposition to the Blaugrana within the competitors (D1 L7).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Athletic Membership – 22.7%
Draw – 23%
Barcelona – 54.3%