Who: Barcelona vs Athletic Club What: Spanish football’s La Liga Where: Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain When: August 27, at 9pm local time ( ) How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the build-up from ahead of our live text commentary stream. Barcelona aim to go back-to-back to start their search for a threepeat in La Liga when Athletic Club arrive on Wednesday. The Catalan giants are riding high after consecutive league titles – and opened their league season with a win – while rivals Real Madrid have languished for the last two seasons.
Their visitors from Bilbao will not be a walkover, especially with all eyes on Barca’s hunt for a striker in the transfer market. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick indicated Wednesday the club may end the summer transfer window without signing a new striker if they fail in their bid to lure Argentinian star Julian Alvarez from rivals Atletico Madrid. The Spanish champions are still pursuing 2022 World Cup winner Alvarez but Atletico have thus far refused to sell the 26-year-old forward, who missed training on Wednesday due to illness.
Spanish media reported Barca president Joan Laporta wants “Alvarez or nobody” and Flick said the club also had to think about the future and he is happy with his squad. I only want to (speak) about the situation of the club. We made some really good, good transfers now in this market,” the German coach told reporters.
Not only the present now. I have total confidence with the quality we have now.” In July, Laporta said Barcelona had made a bid for the Atletico forward and the club were leaving it on the table even after Atletico told them Alvarez was not for sale. Laporta reiterated later Wednesday that Barcelona are still hoping Atletico decide to sell them Alvarez, who was jeered by the Rojiblancos’s own fans during their 2-2 La Liga draw against Villarreal on Sunday.
Laporta said Barca had received “information” that Atletico had been in talks with other clubs about the possibility of selling Alvarez, with the president keen for the striker’s destination to be Camp Nou if he does leave the Spanish capital. Arsenal have been linked to Alvarez in recent days, while Real Madrid made a bid for the striker at the start of the summer, although it was not seen as a serious attempt to sign him. Barca’s display was a clear warning to rivals Real Madrid and their new coach, Jose Mourinho, that the Catalans will not relinquish the title easily.
Karim Adeyemi also found the net on his debut as Barca made light work of a vulnerable Elche side at the Martinez Valero stadium. Athletic were beaten 3-1 at home by Sevilla to open their season in La Liga on Saturday. Yuri Berchiche was sent off for Athletic in the 11th minute, before Oso, Chidera Ejuke and Isaac Romero put Sevilla 3-0 up by the hour mark.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
