Hansi Flick, the former Bayern Munich and Germany manager, is set to lead his first competitive match for Barcelona this Saturday as they visit Valencia in the opening weekend of the new La Liga season.
Barcelona ended last season in second place, trailing rivals Real Madrid by 10 points. Flick’s appointment comes during a challenging time for the team, which is dealing with significant injuries, including those to vice-captain Ronald Araujo, key midfielder Pedri, and Dutch playmaker Frenkie de Jong. Additionally, summer recruit Dani Olmo is expected to miss the match.
Valencia, on the other hand, had a mid-table finish under manager Ruben Baraja last season, which marked a recovery compared to their previous campaign that saw them close to relegation. This improvement has raised expectations for a stronger performance in the upcoming season from a club that typically aims for European qualification.
The match will take place at Mestalla Stadium on Saturday, August 17, with kickoff scheduled for 9 p.m. CEST local time, which corresponds to 3 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. PT in the U.S., 8 p.m. in the UK, and 5 a.m. AEST in Australia on Sunday.
For viewers in the U.S., all matches in Spain’s top flight can be streamed via ESPN Plus, which holds live broadcasting rights for La Liga. This particular match will also be televised live on ABC.
To access La Liga games internationally, fans can utilize a VPN service to bypass local restrictions. Employing a VPN allows users to maintain their internet privacy and avoid speed throttling from their ISP on game day.
In the UK, La Liga matches continue to be broadcast by Premier Sports, which promises a minimum of five live matches each week on its dedicated channel for the league.
In Canada, TSN holds the rights to air La Liga games, showcasing select matches on its linear channels and a broader selection through its TSN Plus streaming service.
Australian fans can again enjoy La Liga fixtures on BeIn Sports, which retains live broadcasting rights for Spanish top-flight matches in Australia.