Barcelona is set to make a highly anticipated return to their iconic home ground, Camp Nou, this Saturday after a two-year hiatus due to an extensive multimillion-dollar refurbishment. The match will see Barcelona host Athletic Bilbao in a La Liga fixture that promises excitement and significance for both teams. This game marks not only a homecoming for Barcelona but also a crucial opportunity for them to climb to the top of the La Liga table.
The newly renovated Camp Nou is a spectacle in itself, poised to become the largest stadium in Spain and Europe once all renovations are complete, with a seating capacity of 105,000. However, for the time being, attendance will be limited to just half of this capacity, approximately 49,500 fans, as part of ongoing safety and operational measures during the stadium’s reopening phase. Despite this restriction, the return to Camp Nou is expected to provide a vital morale boost to Barcelona, led by their manager Hansi Flick.
Barcelona currently sits second in the La Liga standings as the team returns from the international break. A win against Athletic Bilbao will allow them to leapfrog their fierce rivals, Real Madrid, who will not play until the following day. This adds an extra layer of anticipation and pressure on Barcelona to secure victory on their home turf.
Athletic Bilbao, coached by Ernesto Valverde, arrives at Camp Nou aiming to disrupt Barcelona’s homecoming celebrations. The Basque side is currently positioned just outside the European qualification spots in the league. They come off a narrow 1-0 home win against Real Oviedo before the international break, a result that has given them momentum heading into this challenging away fixture. Known for their tenacity and unpredictability, Bilbao will be eager to capitalize on any weaknesses in the Barcelona lineup.
The match is scheduled for Saturday, November 22, with kickoff set for 4:15 p.m. Central European Time (CET). For viewers around the world, this translates to a morning start in the United States at 10:15 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) and 7:15 a.m. Pacific Time (PT). UK fans can tune in at 3:15 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), while in Australia, the game will begin early Sunday morning at 2:15 a.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).
For fans looking to watch the match live, several broadcasting options are available depending on location. In the United States, ESPN holds the rights to broadcast La Liga matches, including this fixture. The network offers two streaming tiers for viewers. The first is ESPN Select, which costs $12 per month and provides access to La Liga soccer among other content. This tier is essentially a continuation of the former ESPN Plus service, maintaining the same range of sports programming.
For those seeking more comprehensive access, ESPN offers a higher tier called ESPN Unlimited at $30 per month. This subscription grants full streaming access to ESPN’s linear channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESP3, ESPNews, and ESPN Deportes, in addition to all the content available on ESPN Select. This tier is ideal for sports enthusiasts who want a broad spectrum of live sports coverage beyond just La Liga matches.
In the United Kingdom, Premier Sports is the primary broadcaster for Spanish top-flight football this season. Premier Sports will air 340 live matches, including the Barcelona vs. Athletic Bilbao game. The match will be shown exclusively on the La Liga TV channel and the Premier Sports Player streaming service. Fans can subscribe to the dedicated La Liga channel for £8 a month, which offers focused access to Spanish football.
Alternatively, viewers in the UK can opt for a full Premier Sports subscription, priced at £10 per month for Sky and Virgin TV customers. This subscription not only includes access to La Liga but also extends to a wide array of other sports coverage, such as the Scottish Premiership, BKT United Rugby Championship, Investec Champions Cup rugby, NHL, and NASCAR. Premier Sports is also available as an add-on through Amazon Prime Video for £15 a month, providing flexibility for viewers who prefer streaming through that platform.
Canadian viewers can watch the match through TSN, which holds the rights to La Liga in the region. While some games are broadcast on TSN’s linear channels, a greater selection, including this particular match, is available on their streaming platform, TSN Plus. TSN Plus is a direct-to-consumer streaming service costing CA$8 per month. Besides La Liga, it offers