| Odds via 22bet | |
| Barcelona vs Athletic Club | August 24, 18:00 GMT+1 |
| Barcelona odds | 1.62 |
| Athletic Club odds | 5.05 |
| Draw | 4.14 |
| Over\Under | 1.72/2.12 |
Barcelona kicked off the new season with a narrow 1-2 victory over Valencia. Despite falling behind 1-0, Robert Lewandowski came through for the team. Lewy first equalized in the final minute of the first half and then gave his team the lead from the penalty spot.
After Xavi’s dismissal, Hansi Flick took over and surprisingly started with two youngsters in the midfield. Marc Casado and Marc Bernal both played confidently against Valencia, signalling they could play a significant role this season.
The transfer market has also been a focal point for Barcelona. The club successfully signed Dani Olmo, bolstering their attacking options, but their efforts to bring in Nico Williams fell through.
At the same time, Barcelona had to part ways with Ilkay Gündogan, one of the team’s best players last season.
As the season progresses, the ongoing saga of new signings remains a key talking point.
| Recent Form | WLLWW |
| Key Players to Watch | Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo |
| Team Strengths | Good control of the ball, talented young players |
| Team Weaknesses | Defensive frailties, lack of speed |
| Injuries and Suspensions | Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Ansu Fati (questionable) |
Bilbao hosted Getafe in the first round when they unexpectedly dropped points in a 1-1 draw. Oihan Sancet opened the scoring with a powerful strike from distance in the first half, but Chirstanus Uche’s header ensured the draw for Getafe.
Despite dominating possession, Athletic Club struggled to create clear-cut chances in the final third. The absence of creativity was noticeable, especially with Euro 2024 standout Nico Williams starting on the bench. Immediately after entering the pitch, he livened up his team, but it was not enough to secure the victory.
To add insult to injury, Athletic’s first-choice goalkeeper, Unai Simon, who was pivotal for Spain in recent international competitions, sustained a scapholunate ligament injury. His absence means that Alex Padilla will step up as the starting goalkeeper, which comes with immense pressure as Athletic Club looks to secure better results in the coming matches.
| Recent Form | DLLWW |
| Key Players to Watch | Nico Williams, Oihan Sancet |
| Team Strengths | Solid defence, lethal on counterattacks |
| Team Weaknesses | Poor finishing |
| Injuries and Suspensions | Aitor, Paredes, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Nico Serrano, Unai Simon |
The two teams met three times last season, exchanging two wins and a draw. Historically, these two teams have a rich rivalry, having met 242 times. Barcelona has the upper hand with 121 victories, while Athletic Club has won 81 times, and 40 matches have ended in a draw.
In recent years, Barcelona have rarely lost against Bilbao. However, Athletic Club proved they could still pose a significant challenge when they knocked Barcelona out of the Copa del Rey last season with a thrilling 4-2 victory in extra time.
It would be no surprise to say that Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams will be in the spotlight. The youngsters formed a formidable duo during Euro 2024, but now they find themselves on opposing sides, ready to compete against each other.
Marc Casado and Marc Bernal also made a strong impression in Barcelona’s last match, with a level of confidence uncommon for players of such a young age. They cooperated well and effectively troubled Valencia’s midfielders.
Hansi Flick opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation against Valencia and will likely stick to it in their upcoming match. The German manager preferred this strategy during his time with Bayern and seems to go for the same strategy at Barcelona.
On the other side, Ernesto Valverde also uses the 4-2-3-1 formation, in which the wingers have a pivotal role in creating chances in the offense. Iñaki and Nico Williams are pivotal on the flanks, often driving the attack forward, while Oihan Sancet typically leads the line as the sole forward.
In the first round, Barcelona scored two goals against Valencia, and it’s highly probable that they can replicate this result against Bilbao. Moreover, the Blaugrana scored at least twice in six of the previous ten meetings against Athletic.
The major threat will certainly come from Lamine Yamal. The 17-year-old prodigy was one of the standout performers at Euro 2024 and already assisted against Valencia.
Bilbao, on the other hand, have shown vulnerabilities in defense. They allowed too many defensive errors against Getafe, which eventually cost them crucial points. With their starting goalkeeper Unai Simon sidelined due to injury, Bilbao’s defense may struggle even more, making it likely that Barcelona will score at least two goals.
Historically, Athletic have found it challenging to score against Barcelona when playing away. However, the situation has greatly changed this season, particularly in their defensive solidity. While defensive issues persist, the attacking prowess of both sides remains high, with several quality attackers capable of finding the net.
Recent trends at home suggest that Barcelona tends to engage in high-scoring affairs. In two of their last three home games, three or more goals were scored, with Barca netting four times on both occasions. The results of the friendlies also indicate that Barcelona will continue their usual attacking style under Hansi Flick.
Based on the results of H2H meetings and the team’s recent performance, we expect a productive match from both sides. Over 2.5 goals is a reasonable bet in the following encounter.
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