Barça revenge for the cup exit?
Euphoria reigns in the Basque Country: On Thursday, Athletic Club from Bilbao reached the Copa del Rey final for the third time in the last five years. The 3-0 win in the second leg against Atletico Madrid was an exclamation mark and once again proof that ex-Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has created an extremely powerful team in Bilbao. Valverde will now face his former club again, who he knocked out of the cup in the quarter-finals a few weeks ago
The top game of matchday 27 in La Liga between third-placed Barcelona and fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao takes place on Sunday evening at 9pm in Bilbao – and the atmosphere at the San Mames is likely to be very special once again.
As in the cup tie a few weeks ago, we can once again expect a hotly contested duel on a knife-edge. What’s in favor of the visitors from Catalonia, what’s in favor of the Basques, what are the best bets and what is the form of both teams? We shed light on all of this in this preview of the top match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona, including betting odds, predictions, betting tips and team checks for both clubs
Athletic Bilbao – stats & current form
It was another impressive performance from Athletic Bilbao on Thursday evening. On paper, they went into the semi-final clash against Atletico Madrid as slight underdogs – but Bilbao won the first leg at the Metropolitano 1-0 and inflicted Atletico’s first home defeat of the season in the process. Bilbao then made short work of the second leg on Thursday evening, giving the Rojiblancos no chance with a 3-0 win and leaving no doubt as to who will be favorites in the Copa del Rey final when they face Mallorca.
Athletic Bilbao: Offensive strength and attacking power in San Mames
It was the next impressive home performance for the Basques, who also beat second-placed FC Girona 3-2 two weeks ago and have scored more than 2.5 goals at home several times this season. They have done so in seven of their 13 home games – that alone shows how full of confidence the Basques are at San Mames. With 34 home goals, they are also the strongest home team in the league in attacking terms. The Basques have also only conceded one defeat at home.
FC Barcelona have therefore been warned – all the more so because they felt this home momentum first-hand at the end of January. The Basques are particularly dangerous thanks to their switching and wing play, although they will have to cope with a weakness in the latter: Nico Williams, goalscorer and provider of the assist in the 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid, is suspended with a yellow card against Barça on Sunday.
Will the attacking Bilbao also score several times against Barca? Since the Catalans are very vulnerable defensively this season, this betting tip should definitely be considered for Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona. Athletic Bilbao over 1.5 goals brings odds of over 2.00.
Predicted line-up of Athletic Bilbao:
Barcelona – Statistics & current form
While Athletic Bilbao were on the pitch until shortly before midnight on Thursday, Barcelona were able to complete a full week of training. The Catalans are therefore definitely more rested than the Basque hosts. Both teams have recently recharged their batteries, and the clear 4-0 win over FC Getafe on matchday 26 was the best performance in months in terms of both offense and defense and was therefore a balm for the battered Catalan souls
Ahead of the visit to Bilbao: FC Barcelona still without an away defeat
Another encouraging sign ahead of the tough trip to the San Mames: FC Barcelona are still unbeaten away from home this season. Barça have also won all of their last four away games. However, this includes two last-minute wins on penalties against Las Palmas and Celta Vigo.
Nevertheless, Barcelona have been much more stable of late, which is also due to Robert Lewandowski’s new-found goalscoring instinct.
The Pole has scored nine goals in the 14 games this calendar year, scoring in four of the last five games. If Lewandowski also scores in the San Mames – he also scored in the cup tie at the same venue in January – Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona odds can exceed 2.50, depending on the bookmaker.
Predicted Barcelona line-up:
Athletic Bilbao – Barcelona head-to-head comparison / H2H result
The last meeting went wrong from Barça’s point of view, although the cup tie in the quarter-finals could have ended differently if Lamine Yamal had made the most of his huge chance just before the end. However, after a 2-2 draw in regulation time, the game went into extra time, where Bilbao came out on top 4-2.
It was the third win for the Basques in their last ten matches, but curiously, none of them came after 90 minutes and all three were won in extra time – twice in the Copa and once in the Super Cup final.
A draw in this top match is therefore definitely within the realms of possibility, especially as Barcelona regularly struggle at the San Mames. The Catalans have only won four of their last ten matches, with four ending in a draw after 90 minutes. Betting on Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona to share the points can therefore definitely be an obvious choice
Athletic Bilbao – Barcelona betting tip
Both teams have gained a lot of confidence in their last games. Barça won 4-0 in the league with their best performance in weeks, while Bilbao knocked Atletico Madrid out of the cup with an impressive 3-0 win and advanced to the final. Ernesto Valverde’s men have been almost invincible at the San Mames this season and are hungry for goals like no other team. Barcelona therefore face a mammoth task in which they can prove that their form is on the up again
A win in Bilbao will be a difficult task, not without reason are the odds on the visitors to win at an average of 2.40. That speaks for itself that this is likely to be another hard-fought duel on a knife-edge, just as it was in the cup.
That’s why it’s too tricky for us to make a prediction in the three-legged tie; we’re looking to secure the outcome of the game. We believe that both teams will score and give our prediction for Athletic Bilbao vs: BTS & X2. A narrow away win for the improved visitors is just as conceivable as a draw in this clash, which could possibly end in a draw again after 90 minutes – only this time without extra time.
