FC Barcelona are set to return to their home, the Spotify Camp Nou, later today to welcome Athletic Club in La Liga. It is a momentous occasion for a club that has spent the last couple of seasons at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
Even though the club has some decent memories at the Montjuïc stadium, it has not had the same life as the Spotify Camp Nou. The crowd felt distant, the noise was not the same, and the whole experience felt lifeless.
Thus, 22 November 2025 is a huge day for Barcelona as a club. When the players walk out of the tunnel, lined up behind the captain, the entire crowd will try to be as vociferous as they can in their roar to greet the team.
However, that brings us to the next question: who is going to wear the armband to lead Barcelona out against Athletic Club?
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is the club’s first captain, but he is still recovering from surgery and has not been seen around for quite a while. The second in line is Ronald Araujo, who is fit and should make Hansi Flick’s squad.
However, following a long trip back from South America, where he was on International duty for Uruguay, Hansi Flick might decide that it is not the wisest option to start him against Athletic Club, especially with a Stamford Bridge trip just days away.
Frenkie de Jong, who normally starts almost every game for Hansi Flick when available, will miss the match against Ernesto Valverde’s side through suspension. Barcelona’s fourth captain, Raphinha, is returning from a two-month lay-off and is unlikely to start.
Meanwhile, their fifth captain, Pedri, is currently injured, ruling him out as a starter. In the event that Ronald Araujo does not start against Athletic Club, Hansi Flick needs to identify a captain for the game.
The emotional one
If you wanted the perfect story, the one that would be etched in club folklore for years, you would give the armband to Lamine Yamal. The face of Barcelona leading the team out at the renovated Camp Nou is an excellent headline.
However, the Spaniard is still just 18 years old, and it might not be wise to burden him with the captaincy, even for a one-off game. Barcelona should give him as much freedom as possible and let him play the football he wants.
There are also seniors in the team who have worn the armband on occasion before, and bypassing the queue to give Lamine the captaincy against Athletic Club might not be the correct approach.
The experienced one
The easiest option at Hansi Flick’s disposal is to give the captaincy to Robert Lewandowski. The Pole is likely to start as the No. 9 on the night and, at 37 and having spent three and a half seasons at the club, he more than deserves it.
Lewandowski has worn the armband many times in the past, especially for his country. He would be a calm figure to lead the team out against Athletic Club, and it would be no surprise to see Hansi Flick go this way.
The only question mark is whether the Pole wants the added responsibility at this stage of his career, but for a one-off game, he is unlikely to object.
The left-field ones
A left-field choice that Barcelona could opt for, considering he has worn the armband previously in a pre-season friendly, is Ferran Torres. The Spaniard is one of the more experienced members of the squad in terms of time spent at the senior level.
Ferran has also proved to be a very reliable player this season. Under Hansi Flick, he has taken his game to the next level, and adding leadership to it might be the next step in his evolution as a Barcelona player.
Although this might not be the most popular option among fans, it would not be a complete surprise to see Hansi Flick go in this direction.
This discussion around captaincy, alongside the reduced capacity for the fixture, adds another layer to an already intriguing game against Athletic Club on Saturday. It remains to be seen who will be given the nod to captain the side against the Basque opposition if Ronald Araujo does not start.
