Flick’s first Barça home game
Hansi Flick celebrates his home debut. Barcelona’s new coach has already managed one game at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, but that was a 3-0 defeat against Monaco in the “Trofeo Joan Gamper”, Barça’s traditional season-opening test
On matchday 2 of La Liga, Flick now officially plays his first competitive game in front of a home crowd – and naturally wants to do much better. Will it work with the second win in the second league game and the first in their own stadium? Our Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao predictions show which aspects of the game could still be important
And one thing is clear: when the Basque lions visit Montjuic on Saturday evening, Barça’s favorite opponent from the league awaits. The situation is therefore clear for the online bookmakers in the Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao prediction:
It will be exciting to see how the crowd will welcome European Championship shooting star Nico Williams, who has been courted by Barça all summer. The winger has not made a clear commitment to his club, but a move seems to be off the table, despite the Blaugrana trying everything. Williams is now expected to help end Bilbao’s black streak in Barcelona.
Will the Basques finally manage to pick up another rare point or even triumph on Flick’s home debut? Which bets are particularly interesting for this game? Find out in this preview of Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao, including odds, predictions, statistics and betting tips.
Barcelona – Statistics & current form
This is Hansi Flick’s second game in front of a home crowd, and he will not look back fondly on his debut against AS Monaco, as it went badly wrong. However, Barça did better in their first competitive game a few days later, winning 2:1 at Valencia FC on matchday 1.
A successful start for Flick, but he had to tremble in the meantime, as Barça were 1-0 down in Valencia. Robert Lewandowski turned the game around with a brace to give the German coach a positive start in La Liga in a difficult away match
Barça’s strong league series against Bilbao
This should of course continue, as only four teams won their opening game, Barça could also immediately take the lead in the table with a home win against Bilbao on matchday 2. There is a lot to be said for the Blaugrana’s treble, such as Barça’s impressive run of winning 19 of their last 22 league encounters against Bilbao. Although there were three home defeats last season under former coach Xavi Hernández (against Real Madrid, Villarreal and Girona), a loss in Flick’s first home game would be a major setback, which we do not expect.
More interesting is the Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao betting tip on a home win with goals on both sides – as Barça once again showed their defensive vulnerability in the 2-1 win at Valencia.
Predicted Barcelona line-up:
Athletic Bilbao – Statistics & current form
K0mpletely confident FC Barcelona did not present themselves in the 2:1 win in Valencia, which is why the Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao betting odds on the double chance X2 seem lucrative, after all, they average at 2.25. However, Athletic Bilbao did not perform confidently or even convincingly in their first game of the season.
At home to Sam Mamés, “Los Leones” only managed a tired 1-1 draw against FC Getafe, with a rather disappointing result and performance. The Basques, who finished fifth last year and only lost sight of the Champions League late in the season, are in danger of a false start
Athletic Bilbao disappoint on matchday 1 against Getafe
What gives hope for the visitors’ victory? The last three-pointer in Barcelona dates back to 2001, and Barça simply don’t get anything on a regular basis. So it’s no wonder that the Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao prediction for an away win has average odds of 5.00. This is certainly also due to the fact that Athletic Club from Bilbao had its problems away from home last year and had an even record (7 wins, 5 draws, 7 defeats). However, the 19 goals scored in 19 away games were very meagre.
But given that Barça struggled to cope with venomous, early-pressing opponents last season and conceded an average of one goal per game at home, we believe that the visitors can at least be uncomfortable – including scoring a goal.
Predicted Athletic Bilbao line-up:
Barcelona – Athletic Bilbao head-to-head comparison / H2H record
We’ve already mentioned the Basques’ black streak: The last win in Barcelona dates back to 2001, since then there has been no three-pointer in 22 league games and only three meagre draws. In the cup, the Basque lions can annoy and even defeat Barça from time to time – because the last cup games were always played at home in San Mamés.
But in the league, and especially in Barcelona, they have rarely scored. The overall balance in this clash of traditional teams – both have never been relegated to the second division – is therefore in favour of the Catalans, who have won 121 of their 241 games, with 80 victories for Bilbao and 40 draws
Barcelona – Athletic Bilbao betting tip
Can Hansi Flick get the first home win a week after the debut success in Valencia? Athletic Bilbao will be the next touchstone, and certainly not an easy one. Ernesto Valverde often has his team press early and set up pressing traps against his former club Barcelona, and Barça have had their problems defending the transition game after losing the ball for years
These problems could be seen again on Saturday evening, which is why we expect the home side to concede – but also to win. After all, Bilbao’s first appearance and their recent Barcelona record give little hope of a point. Our Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao tip is therefore: Barça win and both score
