Nico Williams a big doubt to face Barcelona next week

He is Athletic Club's most influential player and one of the top forwards in the Spanish national team. He did not play against Scotland and has not travelled to Norway to face Haaland, Odegaard and company. Nico Williams is suffering from an intercostal strain which currently rules him out of the Barça-Athletic game on Sunday 22 October. 

In Bilbao they are very upset because it is the second time this season that Nico has had to return injured after an international call-up. In the previous break, the younger Williams brother suffered an adductor injury and was sidelined for two weeks. 

Now, the Basque club's medical services will work to ensure that he can play in Montjuic, but the striker is so important for Valverde that they will not risk a possible relapse. 

Nico has played six games for Athletic at the start of the season and has yet to make his debut as a goalscorer. 

The 21-year-old winger has four assists to his name and his presence in the starting XI against Barça could be a key factor in the clash between Valverde's side and Xavi's men. 

Barça also have Balde most likely out, although it is more likely that if Nico plays, he will play on the left wing and, therefore, his particular duel will be against Portuguese Joao Cancelo. 

It will be particularly interesting given the reports that place Nico in Barça's orbit. 

The younger Williams brother has played five games against Barça and has yet to score a goal against the Blaugrana. In this sense, he is far behind his brother Iñaki, who in his career with Athletic has been able to score five goals against Barça, although to do so he has had to play 24 games against the Barcelona team. 

Another player in doubt for Athletic's next league game is Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta. Galarreta played for the Blaugrana in the 2017-18 season with Gerard López and García Pimienta as coaches of that reserve team that failed to stay in the Segunda División A.