Athletic vs Barcelona prediction, H2H & Probable Line-ups – January 8, 2025
This week marks the start of the Spanish Super Cup, with Athletic Bilbao facing Barcelona in one of the semifinals on Wednesday, January 8. Here's my betting suggestion for this match.
Athletic vs Barcelona: Match facts and head-to-head
- Athletic Bilbao are on an impressive unbeaten streak, with 15 matches without defeat.
- Barcelona have lost two of their last three games.
- Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup in 2023 but lost in the final last year.
- In 88% of their matches this season, Barcelona have scored more than 1.5 goals, while Athletic have done so in 77%.
- Barcelona frequently score in both halves, achieving this in 54% of their games.
- Athletic have more clean-sheet victories (31%) compared to Barcelona (27%).
- Athletic boast the second-best defense in La Liga, conceding just 17 goals.
- Barcelona have the best attack in La Liga, with 51 goals scored.
- Barcelona defeated Athletic in their most recent meeting, 2-1. In their last five encounters, Barcelona won three times, Athletic once, and one match ended in a draw.
Athletic vs Barcelona: Match preview
Both Athletic and Barcelona have shown strong performances this season, though the Catalans have faced a recent slump. Before the new year, Barcelona managed just one win in seven La Liga matches, with four losses and two draws. However, they started 2025 on a positive note, defeating Barbastro 4-0 in the Copa del Rey. Barcelona enter the Super Cup semifinals in good spirits, bolstered by their league-best attack, which has netted 51 goals this season. Last year, they reached the Spanish Super Cup final but suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat.
Athletic Bilbao did not participate in last year’s Super Cup but secured a spot this year by winning the Copa del Rey. The team is currently in excellent form, sitting in the top four of La Liga. They possess the league’s second-best defense, having conceded just 17 goals, and are unbeaten in their last 15 matches across all competitions. Athletic approach this semifinal after a solid victory in the Copa del Rey Round of 32.
Probable lineups
- Athletic Bilbao: Simón; De Marcos, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche; Sancet, Prados; I. Williams, Berenguer, N. Williams; Guruzeta
Barcelona: Peña; Koundé, Cubarsi, Martínez, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Raphinha, Gavi, Fermín; Lewandowski
Prediction
Two top teams will be competing for this title, and with just two matches needed to secure the trophy, both sides will be highly motivated. I anticipate an exciting match and predict that both Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona will find the net. The odds for this outcome are 1.61.
