Spanish La Liga - FC Barcelona VS Athletic Bilbao Prediction
Spanish La Liga - FC Barcelona VS Athletic Bilbao
Match Time: 25-08-2024 01:00 Sunday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Barcelona
The Catalan giants will be without the services of Ansu Fati, Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong, and Gavi. While they were hoping to register Dani Olmo in time for this fixture, it looks very unlikely.
Hansi Flick is expected to stick with the three 17-year-olds Pau Cubarsi, Marc Bernal and Lamine Yamal who started in their last outing. While the German manager could consider starting Andreas Christensen, reports suggest he could be on his way out.
They are expected to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Marc-André ter Stegen will be in goal. Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde are expected to start out wide as full-backs, while Inigo Martínez and Pau Cubarsi will take charge in the heart of the defence.
Marc Bernal and Marc Casado are expected to continue as the two holding midfielders while fit-again Pedri could come in as the number 10. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha will take charge on the flanks while Roberto Lewandowski will lead the line.
Athletic Bilbao
The visitors will be without the services of Alvaro Djalo, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Nico Serrano, Oscar de Marcos, Julen Agirrezabala and Unai Simon. Meanwhile, Aitor Paredes is a doubt after coming off last time out with a muscular issue.
Athletic Club will stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation against Barcelona, with 20-year-old shot-stopper Alex Padilla retaining his spot in goal. Summer signing Andoni Gorosabel should start at right-back, with Yuri Berchiche taking charge on the left flank.
In the heart of the defence, Yeray Alvarez will start alongside Dani Vivian. The back four will aim for a clean sheet against a star-studded Barcelona team, and they will receive support from Mikel Vesga and Benat Prados who will start as the double pivots.
Nico Williams came off the bench in their last outing, but he is expected to start in this important fixture, and his elder brother Inaki will take charge on the other flank. Oihan Sancet will feature as the number ten behind Gorka Guruzeta who will be leading the line.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Kounde, Cubarsi, I Martinez, Balde; Bernal, Casado; Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Padilla; Gorosabel, Yeray, Vivian, Yuri; Prados, Vesga; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Guruzeta
Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
*Barcelona have an impressive recent record against Athletic Bilbao and have won 43 out of the last 68 matches between the two teams, as opposed to Athletic Bilbao's 11 victories.
*Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 22 matches at home against Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, with their previous such defeat coming by a 2-1 margin in November 2001.
*Athletic Bilbao have won only one of their last 21 matches against Barcelona in La Liga, with their only such victory during this period coming by a 1-0 margin at home in August 2019.
*Barcelona have found the back of the net in each of their last 39 matches at home against Athletic Bilbao in La Liga and have scored a total of 108 goals in these matches.
Prediction: Barcelona 2-1 Athletic Bilbao
At full strength, Athletic would fancy their chances of securing a positive result this weekend, but they have some key absences, especially between the sticks, and we are backing Barcelona to make it successive victories at the start of their 2024-25 La Liga campaign.
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