Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao predictions, H2H and match preview for this Tuesday’s game in La Liga. Read on for analysis and predicted line-ups as the Catalans aim to reclaim top spot.
by Mark Sochon (@marksoc1)
Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Preview
The next chapter in this intriguing LaLiga title race comes from Camp Nou on Tuesday evening. This is the second match in a really tough run of games for Barcelona and they can afford no slip-up having surrendered top spot to Real Madrid on the previous match-day.
Barcelona huffed and puffed at Sevilla on Friday night but didn’t really do enough to warrant anything more than the 0-0 draw with which they left. Real Madrid’s victory at Anoeta means they are now 2nd in the league and the destiny of the title is no longer in their hands although there is still a lot of football to be played before any silverware is handed out.
Athletic Club will be hoping to cause an upset and they are unbeaten since the resumption. Gaizka Garitano’s side had drawn against Atleti and Eibar before seeing off Real Betis at San Mames on Saturday. Those results just push them a bit closer to the European places again and with the likes of Real Sociedad and Getafe faltering a bit, Athletic may feel as though Europa League qualification is at least a possibility again even if they do have quite a bit of ground still to make up.
The tough games are coming thick and fast for Barca now with a trip to Balaidos to come on Saturday before they host Atletico Madrid next week. Quique Setien will have to make use of his squad and he will have little choice here with Sergi Roberto and Frenkie de Jong both injured. Antoine Griezmann should return to the side having been left out in Seville on Friday night.
As for Athletic, they are missing Yuri to suspension but should be at full strength otherwise. It’ll be interesting to see whether or not Gaizka Garitano opts to rest players as some teams have done when they’ve come up against Barcelona and Real Madrid since the resumption, with other games certain to offer the Basques higher potential to claim the wins they need to further their European hopes.
We have match previews for every game in LaLiga between now and the end of this season.
Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Predictions
Score Prediction: 2-1 Barcelona
A home win here is no forgone conclusion and with the games they have coming up, there is a real danger that Barcelona could be well behind in this title race very soon if they don’t find an extra gear. Athletic though may just have a bit of fatigue creeping in given they aren’t a side that has been able to rotate extensively and that’s not really a good place to be in before a trip to Camp Nou when they know they will be doing a lot of chasing the ball. Barcelona should win but Athletic might just grab a goal on the break with the pace of Williams.
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Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao H2H
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 2 Barcelona Wins, 2 Athletic Wins, 2 Draws.
- Athletic are unbeaten in their last 4 games vs Barcelona.
- They’ve already claimed two 1-0 wins against them this season at San Mames in league and cup.
- However they haven’t won on any of their last 22 visits to Camp Nou in all competitions.
Predicted Line Ups
Barcelona Team:
Ter Stegen – Alba, Lenglet, Pique, Semedo – Arthur, Busquets, Rakitic – Griezmann, Braithwaite, Messi (4-3-3)
Athletic Team:
Simon – Nunez, Martinez, Alvarez – Balenciaga, Vesga, Muniain, Dani Garcia, Capa – Williams, Villalibre (3-5-2)
Read more: LaLiga Matchday 30 Review
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