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Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona: Prediction and Betting Tips with Odds of 3.90
Barcelona lost the final of the last Spanish Super Cup with a crushing score of 1:4. Will Athletic be able to hold out in the semi-finals of this tournament in Saudi Arabia on January 8? Who is better prepared for this mini-tournament and who will reach the final? Our experts have made a preliminary analysis and provided their opinion on the upcoming match
Command Analysis
Athletic Bilbao
SpainCurrent form
Athletic Bilbao have made a strong start to the new season, cementing their reputation as one of the strongest clubs in Spain. Last season's Copa del Rey win was the club's first in 40 years and secured their place in this season's Spanish Super Cup. In their final match of the Copa del Rey, they beat Logroñes on penalties, extending their impressive 15-match unbeaten run.
In this semi-final against Barcelona, the team will be looking to extend their successful run of reaching the final in each of the last six editions of the competition (three titles). https://www.athletic-club.eus/en target=_blank rel=noopener>Athletic have shown outstanding form in cup competitions, especially against Barcelona, where the Basques have won four of their last five meetings outside La Liga. They lost 2-1 to the Catalans in the current La Liga, but the Basques have traditionally been stronger in the Super Cup.
Injuries and disqualifications
The team faces a number of personnel issues: Unai Simon (wrist injury), Oyan Sunset (thigh injury) and Alex Berenguer (injury) will be absent from the match.
Interesting trends for betting
- Nico Williams continues to show excellent form, making a significant impact on his team's results both internationally and at club level
- Athletic have lost just one of their last 23 home games, highlighting their defensive stability
- The Basque team have not lost at home for more than 12 months, posting the best home record in La Liga
Probable lineup: Padilla - Lecue, Vivian, Inigo Martinez, Ballenciaga - Vesga, Zubimendi, Muniain - Nico Williams, Raul Garcia, Inaki Williams
Barcelona
SpainCurrent form
Barcelona overcame the difficulties of Dani Olmo and Pau Victor's registration failures to comfortably beat fourth-tier club Barbastro 4-0 in the Copa del Rey at the weekend. After a string of La Liga setbacks that have left them falling behind in the title race, the win was a major step in restoring their confidence as they look to make it two wins in a row for the first time since November.
Despite their proud history in the Spanish Super Cup, where Barça hold the record for most titles (14), their recent performances in the competition have been inconsistent. Last year, Barcelona suffered a heavy defeat to Real Madrid in the final (1-4), and now the Blaugrana are aiming to reach a third final in a row to redeem themselves for last year’s failure. Their last three Super Cup matches have been decided by a difference of two or more goals, which promises to be a spectacular encounter.
Injuries and disqualifications
The team will have to cope without Marc-Andre ter Stegen (knee injury) and Lamine Yamal (ankle sprain), but the rest of the players are ready for the match and are eager to demonstrate their best form.
Interesting trends for betting
- Barcelona have opened the scoring on three occasions in their last five matches
- In eight of the previous ten cup matches, the Blaugrana have scored two or more goals
Probable lineup: Inaki Pena - Jules Kunde, Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen, Alejandro Balde - Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Pedri - Rafinha, Ferran Torres, Robert Lewandowski
Trends
Bet Corners: total over 9.5
This bet took place in 3 of the last 5 matches of the hosts
1.95Bet Goals in both halves - no
In 2 of the last 4 head-to-head matches, goals were scored in the same half
2.15Penalty bet – yes
In 3 of the last 6 matches the visitors have been awarded penalties
2.85Bet Exact score 1:1
Two of the last three head-to-head matches ended in a draw
6.55Tip and bets
The upcoming Spanish Super Cup semi-final between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona is expected to be a tense and high-scoring game. Both clubs approach the match with ambitious goals and strong attacking lines. Athletic Bilbao, on an impressive 15-match unbeaten run, are showing confident play, especially in cup games.
The Basque side have won four of their last five matches against Barcelona in cup competitions, showing their ability to cause problems for the Catalan giants. Barcelona, on the other hand, are looking to get back on track after a mixed performance in La Liga. The Catalans tend to start their cup games strongly and have one of the best attacking potentials in Europe. The Super Cup encounters between the two sides have historically been goal-heavy, and both sides are looking to bring their best game to the neutral venue of Jeddah.
Our prediction is both teams to score with odds of 1.81
Bet on the outcome
The semi-final match of the Spanish Super Cup between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona promises to be a tough and tactically intense one. Both teams are in good form: Athletic are on a 15-match unbeaten streak, and Barcelona are looking to strengthen their position after a confident victory in the Spanish Cup. The history of meetings shows that the Basques successfully counter Barcelona in cup matches, and their disciplined defense and ability to counter-attack could create serious problems for the Catalans.
At the same time, Barcelona, despite being the favorite, may have difficulties in overcoming the tight defense of Athletic. Given the nature of previous meetings and the strategy of both teams for such important games, it is likely that the regular time will end in a draw. Both teams will try to minimize risks in order to avoid mistakes, which could lead to an equal score at the end of 90 minutes.
Betting Tip - draw in regular time with odds of 3.40
Bet on statistics
Semi-finals of these tournaments are often high-tension and tightly contested in the centre of the pitch. Athletic and Barcelona will be looking to dominate the middle, which will lead to a lot of fouls and set pieces. Given the aggressive style of play of the Basques and the high pressing of Barcelona, a lot of corner kicks can be expected.
Betting Tip - total corners over 9.5 with odds of 1.95
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