Hansi Flick claimed he must take the blame for Barcelona's mounting injury issues, ahead of their clash with Athletic Club.

Flick's team, who lead the way in LaLiga, head to Bilbao to take on Athletic, and former Blaugrana coach Ernesto Valverde, on Saturday.

However, they will be without Frenkie de Jong, Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde, who have all sustained hamstring injuries in the past week.

Gavi and Andreas Christensen are also on Barca's list of absentees.

"It happens," Flick said.

"I am not happy about that. I said this after the game. We have to discuss what we can make better. If we're doing some things, we have to analyse it, and make it better.

"It's always my responsibility, no one else. This is what I want to say here now: not medical staff, not fitness staff, no, it's my responsibility. I take care of that.

"If something happens, we speak, which is what I want to do now, what we must do better for the future. It's managing for a team, sometimes you make mistakes, it's not nice, especially in this moment, but we are thinking positive."

Robert Lewandowski, who missed Tuesday's Copa del Rey clash with Atletico Madrid due to a fractured eye socket, will be fit to feature against Athletic.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Athletic Club - Gorka Guruzeta

Guruzeta has scored four of Athletic's last six LaLiga goals at San Mames and is just one goal (six goals in 23 appearances) away from equalling his goal tally from the previous league campaign (seven goals in 36 games).

Barcelona - Fermin Lopez

Fermin has provided the most assists in LaLiga in 2026 (five) and has delivered more assists in 20 league appearances this campaign (seven) than he did in his previous two seasons combined (five goal involvements in 59 games).

MATCH PREDICTION: BARCELONA WIN

Valverde has lost 15 of the 19 LaLiga matches he has managed for Club against Barcelona (W1 D3 L15), his highest number of defeats against a single opponent as the Basque club's coach in the competition across his career.

Barcelona are the only team in Europe's five big leagues yet to concede a headed goal this season; the last such goal they conceded in LaLiga was scored by Natan for Real Betis in April 2025.

The Blaugrana have lost two of their last three away games in LaLiga (W1), as many defeats as in their previous 21 away matches in the competition (W15 D4 L2).

Athletic are unbeaten in their last five games in LaLiga (W3 D2), after losing four of the previous five (D1). They have not gone six or more without defeat in the competition since February 2025 (16 games, W9 D7).

Barcelona have won their last five meetings against Athletic in all competitions, scoring 16 goals and conceding just one. Only once have the Blaugrana enjoyed a longer winning run against the Lions, between 1989 and 1992 (10).

Athletic have not won any of their last 12 games against Barca in LaLiga (D2 L10), since a 1-0 win in August 2019, and have failed to score in seven of their last eight meetings against the Blaugrana in the competition (D1 L7).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Athletic Club - 22.7%

Draw - 23%

Barcelona - 54.3%