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Kick off: Sunday, 17 January @19:30 GMT
Venue: Camp Nou (Barcelona)
Live Stream: fuboTV (US), bet365
Head to head record
Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona 0-1 (2015/2016 La Liga)
Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao 1-1 (2015/2016 Spanish Super Cup)
Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona 4-0 (2015/2016 Spanish Super Cup)
Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona 1-3 (2014/2015 Copa del Rey)
Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona 2-5 (2014/2015 La Liga)
Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao prediction
The defending La Liga champions hope to continue their pursuit of Atletico Madrid in their title battle with a win against Athletic Bilbao in the forthcoming fixture. Los Leones already proved this season that they are capable of defeating the Catalans and will want to record a positive result as in the beginning of the season.
Still undefeated on home ground this term
Luis Enrique’s charges are on an incredible run, they remained undefeated in their last twenty one games in all competitions. Moreover, Camp Nou remains an unconquerable fortress this term, since none of the teams came even close to a triumph against Blaugrana, (W16 D2). Their mid-week win against their cross-city rivals Espanyol in Coppa del Rey (2-0) made them cruise through the quarter-finals, which most certainly boosted the team’s morale. Now the Catalans host the Lions, and will be looking for revenge for the Super Cup defeat at the beginning of the season. A win is a necessity if Luis Enrique plans to keep the pace with Atletico. Los Leones proved more than once they are capable of matching star-studded teams, but history is on Barca’s side. The Camp Nou outfit won all of their last eleven home games against the Basques in La Liga. In fact, los Leones recorded just two triumphs at Camp Nou since 1994. Bearing in mind that Barcelona score more than three goals per game on average when playing home this season, I expect plenty of fireworks in this clash.
Their killer trio (Messi, Suarez, Neymar), will rejoin once again in this encounter, since Suarez is returning to the starting line-up after his suspension. When it comes to injured players, Rafinha is the only one in the recovery room.
The Lion is wounded
Ernesto Valverde is well aware he will have much difficulties to repeat the positive result from his last visit to the Catalan capital, given to the combination of suspension and injury. Los Leones’ attack will be beheaded because of the suspension of Aritz Aduriz, their best scorer in the league (11). The man who gave hell to Barcelona’s defenders in the Super Cup, by putting 4 goals to his name will be unavailable for this match due to suspension. The veteran will be sorely missed in this game, as well as his partner in crime, Raul Garcia (4), who is out because of injury. Two of them formed a dynamic duo since the start of the season and, now that they are unavailable for this match, the Basques will have to rely on one of their finest academy products in recent history, Inaki Williams (6). The young attacker just might prove a handful for Blaugrana’s high defensive line, given his pace and technical quality. Even when the team is complete, Athletic Bilbao do not produce some outstanding results on their travels (W3 D2 L5), mostly because their attacking line is rather toothless on away fixtures, with just a little over a goal per game on average. Given the problems Ernesto Valverde is facing, the positive outcome in this fixtures seems almost as a mission impossible.
Apart from the abovementioned Raul Garcia (knee) and Aritz Aduriz (suspension), Athletic Bilbao will be without the likes of Gorka Elustondo who is in the recovery room.
Quick Facts
- Barcelona are on am eleven-game winning run vs Athletic on home turf in La Liga
- The Catalans boast a 16-5-0 record in their previous twenty one fixtures
- Luis Enrique’s side are undefeated at Camp Nou this term
- Athletic won just two away games against the Catalans since 1994
- Los Leones men score less than a goal per game on average when playing at Camp Nou
Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao betting tip
Luis Enrique is quite aware that his team needs a win in this match. The Lions are coming without two of their key players and I do not think they will be capable of recording a positive result. The current situation in both teams simply drives me to a conclusion that a home win is innevitable.
Tip: Barcelona/Barcelona
Odds: 1.51 (1/2) at 888sport
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