Final revenge: Bilbao host Barcelona in Copa Round of 16
Both Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona were still in Saudi Arabia recently for the Spanish Supercup, with Barça eliminated by Real Madrid in the Supercopa semi-finals, while the Athletic club fell to Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the final. Now the beaten teams meet in the cup.
On Thursday evening at 21:30 Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona cross blades in the Copa del Rey. For the Basques, it is a chance for revenge – because the two clubs dueled in the last cup final. But Athletic Club had no chance against Barça.
Will there be revenge now? The betting companies think that is quite possible, because if you look at the odds before Athletic Bilbao vs. Barcelona, you will see that Barça are naturally favoured, but they themselves have odds of over 2.00. So the game at the San Mames is not likely to be a sure-fire winner.
There are good reasons to bet on Barça in the cup match between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona – but you should never underestimate the Basque Lions. Because Bilbao is a real cup team – they proved that not least in the Supercup.
Athletic Bilbao – Statistics & current form
Athletic Bilbao were also underdogs against champions Atletico Madrid in the second semi-final of the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, but in the end they were surprisingly victorious. The Basques were even 1-0 down, but turned the game around in the closing minutes.
They were unable to defend their Supercopa title, however, as Real Madrid triumphed 2-0 in the final. But their return to the final and their victory over Atletico Madrid alone show that Bilbao should never be underestimated in cup knockout matches. Athletic Bilbao reached the final in each of the last four cup competitions!
Two seasons in a row, 2019/20 and 2020/21, Athletic Club from Bilbao reached the final of the Copa del Rey – but lost both finals to Real Sociedad (0-1) and Barcelona (0-4), they also reached the final of the Spanish Supercup twice in a row.
Athletic Bilbao as a typical cup team
While in La Liga Bilbao have always bumbled around in midfield – the Basques are currently ninth – they regularly look particularly motivated in cup games. Bilbao are a typical cup team, so anything is possible against Barcelona. Those who believe that the Basques will win the match will find odds of 3.37 on average on this forecast before Athletic Bilbao vs. Barcelona.
The Basque Lions’ memories of a cup home match against Barcelona are not the worst: As mentioned, they lost the cup final in the final stadium La Cartuja in Sevilla with 0:4, but in the last cup duel at home in San Mames, Bilbao bowled the Catalans out of the competition with 1:0 in the quarter-finals in February 2020.
If you don’t necessarily believe in a win after 90 minutes, but you do believe in the home side progressing, you can place your bets on Athletic Bilbao vs. Barcelona on Marcelino’s team progressing.
Predicted line-up of Athletic Bilbao:
Simon – de Marcos, Alvarez, Martinez, Balenziaga – Berenguer, Garcia, Vesga, Muniain – Sancet, Williams
Last matches played by Athletic Bilbao:
Super Cup
01/16 2022 – Athletic Bilbao 0 – 2 Real Madrid
01/13 2022 – Atletico Madrid 1 – 2 Athletic Bilbao
LaLiga
01/09 2022 – Deportivo Alaves 0 – 0 Athletic Bilbao
Copa del Rey
01/06 2022 – Atletico Mancha Real 0 – 2 Athletic Bilbao
LaLiga
01/03 2022 – Osasuna Pamplona 1 – 3 Athletic Bilbao
Barcelona – Statistics & current form
The Supercopa in Saudi Arabia also ended in disappointment for FC Barcelona, but already in the semi-finals. In a dramatic and highly exciting Clasico, Barça lost to arch-rival Real Madrid after extra time.
The result was not good, but the performance was – coach Xavi Hernandez was “proud” of his team’s performance, which came back from two goals down in regulation time to force extra time.
Barça now want to take the momentum of this good performance into the cup and show it again – with a better outcome in the end, of course. Anyone who saw Barça’s game against Real Madrid in the Supercup can understand that the Catalans are favoured by the betting companies in Bilbao, as the betting odds for Athletic Bilbao vs. Barcelona make clear.
FC Barcelona: Xavi’s multiple attacking options against Bilbao
One reason for this, of course, is that coach Xavi now has important players available again. Both Pedri and Ansu Fati made their comeback in the Supercopa after months of injury. In addition, 55-million winter newcomer Ferran Torres will also be involved, having already played a half in the Supercup.
Barcelona’s attacking options are now manifold. The personnel situation alone, of course, underpins the status of favourites for the visitors from Catalonia.
Predicted Barcelona line-up:
Ter Stegen – Alves, Araujo, Piqué, Alba – Busquets, Gavi, Pedri – Dembélé, Torres, Fati
Last matches played by Barcelona:
Super Cup
01/12 2022 – Barcelona 2 – 3 Real Madrid
LaLiga
01/08 2022 – Granada 1 – 1 Barcelona
Copa del Rey
01/05 2022 – Linares Deportivo 1 – 2 Barcelona
LaLiga
01/02 2022 – Mallorca 0 – 1 Barcelona
12/21 2021 – Sevilla 1 – 1 Barcelona
Athletic Bilbao – Barcelona Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
When it comes to the Spanish Cup, there could hardly be a greater traditional duel. The two sides have crossed paths on an extraordinary number of occasions, meeting in four finals this century alone – all of which Barça have won.
Bilbao’s aforementioned 1-0 win at San Mames two years ago in the quarter-finals was the first time Athletic had won a cup tie against Barça since 1960. On a neutral pitch, the Basque Lions have a very hard time against the Catalans, at home the record is much better. Twelve Copa duels have taken place at the San Mames, of which Bilbao have won seven, with one draw and four Barcelona victories.
Athletic Bilbao – Barcelona Tip
Bilbao vs Barcelona is an absolute traditional duel in the Copa del Rey: The record winner Barcelona (31 titles) meets the vice record winner Bilbao (24 titles). In finals alone, this pairing has been played nine times. Now the encounter is taking place in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey.
Barcelona are the favourites, but we don’t expect it to be a clear-cut affair – on the contrary. Bilbao regularly show how difficult they are to beat and eliminate in knockout games.
Barça should have a boost from the personnel situation, coach Xavi has important players available again in Pedri, Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres.
In addition to the good performance against Real Madrid in the Supercup, this is also the reason why we believe that the Catalans will advance. Even though it will certainly be anything but easy, we are predicting a victory for Barcelona against Athletic Bilbao
