After the pain of losing both legs of the Basque derby to Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, captain Inaki Williams has appealed to Athletic Club’s squad to rally and push for European qualification through La Liga.

The Lions play the first of their final 12 league matches of the campaign at home to leaders Barcelona on Saturday, starting the weekend five points behind sixth-placed Celta Vigo, who occupy a position that looks likely to ensure a place in next season’s Europa League.

“The season isn’t over,” said Williams, via AS. “It’s tough for everyone but we have the challenge of returning to Europe.

“Now the league leaders are coming. We’ve seen their excellent form; it will be tough, but there’s no time for regrets. We have to lift our heads, gather our energy and keep going.”

📽️ 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘 I Athletic miss out on the Copa in Seville.

Eskerrik asko for joining us on another journey, Athleticzales 🙏

WE’ll BE BACK!#RealSociedadAthletic 🏆 #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/DN0GkCt751

— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) March 5, 2026

Barcelona were knocked out of the Copa del Rey in less routine style on Wednesday, winning their second leg 3-0 at home to Atletico Madrid but going out 4-3 on aggregate.

The reigning Spanish champions are guaranteed to start the day above second-placed Real Madrid, who suffered a second successive league defeat with a 1-0 loss at home to Getafe on Monday.

Barca’s challenge is being hampered by injuries, though, with first-choice full-backs Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde the latest to be struck down.

Boss Hansi Flick said: “These are things that happen. I’m not happy, I already said it after the [Atleti] game. We have to talk about what we can improve. That’s always my responsibility, not the medical staff nor the physiotherapists, it is my responsibility.

“I worry about this. I want to talk to the doctors, the physiotherapists, technical staff, see what we can improve. It’s about managing the team. It’s not pleasant and even less at a crucial time like now. We are optimistic because it gives other players the opportunity to show how good they are.”

Athletic Club v Barcelona team news

Kounde and Balde are definitely out. Xavi Espart and Álvaro Cortés have been added to the squad.

Robert Lewandowski missed out against Atleti after fracturing his left-eye socket in the preceding 4-1 home win over Villarreal and the striker has been training in a protective mask.

Eric Garcia could return from suspension but fellow defender Andreas Christensen has a knee injury and midfielder Frenkie de Jong is unlikely to return until April with a hamstring issue.

Centre-back Unai Egiluz, midfielder Benat Prados and forward Maroan Sannadi are long-term absentees for Athletic Club. Forward Nico Williams has pubalgia.

Aymeric Laporte is a doubt (muscular) and fellow defender Yeray Alvarez is serving a 10-month ban for taking a banned substance.

Athletic Club v Barcelona predicted line-ups

Athletic Club: Unai Simon, Jesus Areso, Daniel Vivian, Aymeric Laporte, Yuri Berchiche, Mikel Jauregizar, Mikel Vesga, Inaki Williams, Oihan Sancet, Unai Gomez, Gorka Guruzeta

Barcelona: Joan Garcia, Joao Cancelo, Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, Gerard Martin, Marc Bernal, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Raphinha, Ferran Torres

Where to watch Athletic Club v Barcelona: TV channel, live online streams

Kick-off on Saturday is at 20:00 GMT (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT). In the UK, live coverage is on Disney Plus.

Live streaming on a vast range of devices is available on the Disney Plus app. Subscriptions in the UK cost between £5.99 and £14.99 monthly or £99.90-£149.90 annually.

Athletic Club v Barcelona stats

• Each of the last five meetings between these teams has resulted in a Barcelona win, with Athletic Club failing to score in the last four
• Only Barca (13), Atleti (11), Madrid (11) and Villarreal (10) have won more home league matches than Athletic Club (7) this season
• Athletic Club have conceded in each of their last six home matches in all competitions since successive clean sheets against Atletico Madrid (1-0) and Paris Saint-Germain (0-0) in December
• They have scored once in the last eight league meetings between the teams. Their last Liga goal from open play against Barca was a header by Inigo Martinez – who later joined their opponents – in August 2021
• Head coach Ernesto Valverde won La Liga twice, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup during his time as Barcelona boss between 2017 – having left Athletic Club – and 2020
• Fermin Lopez has two goals and three assists across the last three editions of the fixture
• Barcelona have won their last three matches but lost their most recent two away, suffering that 4-0 defeat at Atleti and a 2-1 loss at Girona
• Only Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe (23) and Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi (16) have more La Liga goals this season than Barca’s Lamine Yamal (13)
• Mbappe is the only player (27) with more direct goal involvements than Yamal (22) in the 2025/26 division
• Aside from Celta Vigo’s Borja Iglesias (54%), Ferran Torres has the highest shot accuracy (51%) of the nine players to have scored at least 10 times in this season’s La Liga

Athletic Club v Barcelona prediction