Athletic Club vs Barcelona Predictions

Barcelona are capable of giving a tough challenge to the Basque club. This will be a mouthwatering clash for sure and fans can expect both teams to play attacking football. You can go for over 3.5 for this clash.

Match info: Spanish Super Cup semi-final

Venue: King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah

Date: Wednesday, 8^th January 2025

Time: 8 pm Nigerian time

A place in the Spanish Super Cup final will be at stake when Athletic Bilbao take on Barcelona in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

Athletic are featuring in the semi-finals as the Copa del Rey holders, while the Blaugrana are competing in the Super Cup courtesy of last season's second-place finish.

Head-to-head:

• Athletic Club have won 11 of the last 81 meetings between the two teams.
• Barcelona have recorded 51 victories.
• The remaining 19 clashes ended in draws.
• The average number of goals in meetings between Athletic Club and FC Barcelona is 2.2.
• When Barcelona leads 0-1 away from home, they win 76% of their matches.
• Barcelona won just 1 game of their last 3 cup clashes against Bilbao.
• Their last 3 cup encounters produced at least 4 goals.

Form:

• Athletic Club in all competitions: W-W-D-W-W
• Barcelona in all competitions: D-W-L-L-W

Team News:

• Athletic Club do not have any injury concerns regarding this fixture.
• Barcelona, on the other hand, have a lot of players out due to injury, Ter Stegen, Ferran Torres, Christensen, Mar Bernal, and Hector Fort are all out due to injuries. Dani Olmo and Pau Victor will not be available due to their registration issues. Lamine Yamal is also doubtful for the match.

Player(s) to watch:

• Alex Berenguer is technically one of the best in the team, despite his small stature. His greatest strength is his direct style of play. He loves to take on his marker and trouble goalkeepers with his powerful shot. His work ethic and never-say-die attitude make him a special player. Alex is a perfect team player who loves to get involved in the team’s attack build-up. Due to his small frame, he is difficult to stop and likes to take on players with his trickery and dribbling.
• Pedri is already one of the best midfielders in world football. He combines his game intelligence with his technical ability and helps his team perform well on the pitch. He is difficult to defend against as he makes quick, clever movements to receive and pass the ball. The Spaniard can carry the ball at speed and change direction with great skill, manipulating the ball impressively to keep it away from his opponent. His partnership with Gavi and now Casado is crucial for Barca’s midfield as both are the heartbeat of the Catalan team team. In 19 La Liga games, he has an average passing accuracy of 89%.