Barcelona vs Ath Bilbao Prediction & Tips
With a resounding 4-2 win over Napoli, FC Barcelona reached the Europa League round of 16 (aggregate: NAP 3-5 FCB). “I already said that we were coming back. Today we have been reliable during the 90 minutes”, declared the azulgrana coach, Xavi Hernández. After a great European night, Barça will seek to stay in fourth position in LaLiga Santander (LL) and reduce its disadvantage with respect to the leading trio by extending its streak of nine undefeated games (G5, E4), during which the Catalans have opened the score seven times.
Xavi’s Barça is moving in the right direction, and there is no doubt that the Barça team has regained confidence, something that he showed in his last LL game at the Camp Nou, ending with a 4-2 victory over Atlético de Madrid. Madrid. The Catalans can link three league wins at home this Sunday for the first time this season, and Athletic Club seems like a suitable rival: Barcelona has not lost at home against the lions in LL since November 24, 2001 (G16, E3), when Athletic won 2-1 in a clash in which Xavi started.
Despite that great run, Barca must not underestimate Athletic, who drew 1-1 in the first-round clash between the two and knocked the Catalan giants out of the Copa del Rey last month. The lions have added 13 points out of the last 18 possible (G4, E1, P1), joining the fight for European places. Athletic has three consecutive days scoring two or more goals, and can link four for the first time since December 2019, but the rojiblanco team has scored more than one goal in only one of their 13 previous league games against Barça.
Hard to beat away from home: Athletic is one of the teams that has suffered the fewest defeats as a visitor (two) so far in the championship, although it has also had eight draws away from home (G3, E8, P2), a number not surpassed by any other club in the five major European leagues.
Players to watch: Frenkie de Jong, scorer of Barça’s second goal against Napoli at the Diego Armando Maradona, has four goals this season. Each of them has opened the scoring or increased Barcelona’s lead with their goal still clean. One of the great threats for Barça will be Iker Muniain, who signed an assist in the first round clash and scored twice in the Copa victory over the azulgranas.
Featured fact: The last time Barcelona lost a league game against Athletic after opening the scoring was in May 2006.
Barcelona – Ath Bilbao FREE TIPS
Barcelona – Win @ 2.25
