| Odds via 22bet | |
| Athletic Club vs FC Barcelona | Wednesday, 8 January, 2025, 20:00 GMT+1 |
| Athletic Club odds | 4 |
| Barcelona odds | 1.848 |
| Draw | 3.8 |
| Over\Under | Total 2,5: 1.69/2.168 |
Barcelona rank third in La Liga, collecting 38 points in 19 games, leaving them 5 points behind archrivals Real Madrid. The Catalans were leading the league for several months until they failed to win a single game in the last three, losing to Leganés and Atlético de Madrid. They were also held in a 2-2 draw against Real Betis after giving a 2-0 lead away in the last ten minutes.
Last weekend was filled with drama as Barcelona failed to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor due to a lack of space in their wage bill. The two players were temporarily registered in Autumn due to the injuries of Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araújo. However, their comebacks meant Barça needed to find new ways.
La Liga and RFEF have rejected Barcelona’s application to register them. A decision from the Superior Council of Sports is expected in the next few days.
As a result, ten fan groups signed an open letter asking for the immediate resignation of club president Joan Laporta and his board. They threaten a motion of censure if their demands aren’t met. Jordi Farré is expected to present the motion this week, having already passed it against the previous club president, Josep Maria Bartomeu.
| Recent Form | DWLLW |
| Key Player to Watch | Lamine Yamal |
| Team Strengths | Talented academy, strong quality, balanced XI. Great in counter-attacks and high-line, pressuring well |
| Team Weaknesses | Injuries, lack of midfield depth in pivot, exploitable high line, dependence on Lamine Yamal, tend to rush attacks |
| Key injuries and suspensions. | Marc André Ter Stegen, Andreas Christensen, Héctor Fort, Marc Bernal. Dani Olmo and Pau Victor (not registered). |
Athletic Club are ranked fourth, only two points behind Barça. They remain undefeated in the last 15 games, only losing three matches this season. Their last defeat dates back to early October, as Girona won 2-1. Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid are the other two teams that defeated Ernesto Valverde’s side.
Athletic Club progressed in the Copa Del Rey against Logroñés but was unable to defeat them after 90 minutes. Fans had to wait for penalties for their team to win.
The Basques won against Real Madrid in early December, demonstrating they are capable of an upset. They won the competition four years ago, defeating Real Betis in La Cartuja. The team will travel with all players except Álex Padilla, rumoured to exit on loan. His contract was renewed until 2029, but the fierce competition for the goalkeeping spot led him to be loaned out, especially with the return of Unai Simón.
| Recent Form | WWDWD |
| Key Player to Watch | Álex Berenguer |
| Team Strengths | Strong team cohesion, threats on the wings as much as in the box, intense team out of possession |
| Team Weaknesses | Lack of squad depth and quality in the full-backs, overreliance on Oihan Sancet |
| Key injuries and suspensions. | Álex Padilla (not selected) |
The two teams have faced each other 76 times, with 49 matches ending in Barcelona’s favour. Athletic Club won 10 times, with 17 games ending in a draw. Their last match ended in a 2-1 victory for Barcelona in early August, with Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski scoring for the Catalans. Oihan Sancet converted the penalty for Los Leones.
Athletic Club last defeated Barcelona a year ago, eliminating them in the Copa Del Rey quarterfinals. Guruzeta scored the first goal in the first minute for Los Leones, but Yamal and Lewandowski brought Barcelona the lead. With Sancet scoring in the 49th minute, both teams were unable to break the deadlock, and the match was sent to overtime.
The two Williams brothers, however, scored 4-2 for Athletic Club.
Barcelona suffered during the few matches Lamine Yamal was unavailable. Now that the teenager is fit once again, he’ll be Hansi Flick’s most important attacking player. The team have lacked the offensive edge in his absence, and his dribbles have been known to leave defenders behind.
If there’s one player Athletic Club need to worry about, it’s Yamal. He has developed his own ‘trivela’ move. He’s also become the only reliable crosser of the team, with full-backs Alejandro Balde and Jules Koundé struggling to make an impact on the offence.
As for Athletic Club, any of the forwards could be chosen, but I would stick with Oihan Sancet. The midfielder filters every ball that passes through him, often launching one of the William brothers.
Also, his hard-working ethic makes him a dangerous player when pressing, as he rarely gets tired. Sancet has been at the centre of every counterattack, which will force Barcelona to cut him off if they want to limit his attacking impact.
Bet hereBarcelona’s high line have been the team’s greatest strength and weakness, applying pressure on opponents but also allowing them to counter-attack efficiently. In the past few weeks, more and more teams have managed to counter the threat by placing a mid-block.
Coincidentally, Ernesto Valverde’s team excels at pressing in mid-blocks, making it the ideal antidote to Flick’s methodology. If Athletic Club score within the first minutes, this could become a challenging encounter, especially since Basques care more about the Supercopa de España than the Catalans.
While Barcelona may be tipped favourite by the booksters, a Basques victory wouldn’t be surprising given the current mood at Barcelona. Joan Laporta has to deal with the Olmo/Victor registration, which is expected to lead to a motion of censure. As a result, neither player will be able to play.
Barcelona struggled against Valverde’s side more than once due to the high intensity, which is precisely what made them successful. A few seconds of inattention is all that’s needed for Athletic Club to punish complacency.
The Basques are definitely more motivated to win the cup, which could be their first trophy since 2021. Furthermore, the Saudi venue means there will be fewer fans, which would work in their favour.
It’s easy to look at the Williams brothers or Sancet, but Álex Berenguer has been just as important for Ernesto’s side. Berenguer scored 4 goals and registered 4 assists in 18 games, demonstrating his importance in the box.
He scored the winner against Osasuna in Athletic Club’s last match of the 2024 year. Seeing him score against Barcelona, a team that plays at high risk, wouldn’t be surprising.
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