Spain Supercopa de Espana - Athletic Bilbao VS FC Barcelona Prediction
Spain Supercopa de Espana - Athletic Bilbao VS FC Barcelona
Match Time:09-01-2025 03:00 Thursday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Athletic Bilbao - WWWDWD
Yeray Alvarez, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, and Oihan Sancet have all been struggling with injury, and their availability remains doubtful as they will be assessed ahead of the game. Ernesto Valverde will make quite a few changes to the XI that started in their Copa del Rey fixture. He will stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Unai Simon should take his place in goal.
Oscar de Marcos and Yuri Berchiche will take up the full-back roles, while Dani Vivian will feature alongside Aitor Paredes in the heart of the defence. Mikel Jauregizar will partner, with Benat Prados in the centre of the park. The duo will look to shield the backline and ensure the Barcelona midfielders do not end up dominating the proceedings.
Inaki Williams and Nico Williams will feature on the flanks, providing the width to their attacks, while Alejandro Berenguer Remiro will take up the number ten role if Sancet fails to make it in time. Gorka Guruzeta will spearhead the Athletic Club attack against Barcelona.
Barcelona - WDWLLW
Dani Olmo and Pau Victor have both travelled with the squad, but they have not been registered yet and can’t be involved in this fixture. While Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Marc Bernal remain on the sidelines, Hector Fort, Andreas Christensen and Lamine Yamal should all return to the squad. While Yamal is back in the mix, he is unlikely to be risked from the start.
Ferran Torres’s availability for this fixture remains doubtful. Hansi Flick will recall quite a few of his regulars for this outing. Barcelona will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Athletic Club, with Inaki Pena returning between the sticks. Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde will be the full-backs, while Pau Cubarsi will continue to partner Inigo Martinez in the heart of the defence.
Marc Casado and Pedri will form the double pivot in midfield. They will look to control the tempo of the game. Gavi will take up the number ten role while Fermin Lopez and Raphinha will continue to feature on the flanks. Robert Lewandowski should lead the line for Barcelona against Athletic Club.
Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
Barcelona have an excellent recent record against Athletic Bilbao and have won 44 out of the last 69 matches played between the two teams, as opposed to Athletic Bilbao's 11 victories.
Athletic Bilbao are unbeaten in their last 15 matches in all competitions, with their previous defeat coming by a 2-1 scoreline at the hands of Girona in a La Liga game in October last year.
Barcelona were on a losing streak of two matches on the trot in all competitions before they secured a 4-0 victory against Barbastro in the Copa del Rey over the weekend.
Athletic Bilbao have managed to remain unbeaten in three of their last five matches against Barcelona in all competitions but did lose their previous such game by a 2-1 scoreline in August last year.
Barcelona have won only two of their last five matches in all competitions.
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; De Marcos, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche; Jauregizar, Prados; I. Williams, Berenguer, N. Williams; Guruzeta
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Raphinha, Gavi, Fermin; Lewandowski
Prediction: Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Barcelona
Barcelona may have swept past Barbastro in the Copa del Rey, but they still have much to prove after losing four of their last seven matches against La Liga opposition, and with that in mind, we think that they may fall short against an Athletic side that have won seven of their last nine competitive matches in regulation time.
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