Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona Prediction & Betting Tips - LaLiga

Prediction published on 10/03/2023, 14:34  by Kennedy Kechula in LaLiga Prediction

Athletic Bilbao will on Sunday host Barcelona in round 25 of the Spanish La Liga at the San Mames. Bilbao arrive at this round placed ninth in the standings with 33 points while Barcelona are top with 62 points. The Basque club has suffered a dip in form in recent weeks and is without a win in their last four matches. They drew 0-0 against Rayo Vallecano last time out to halt a three-game losing streak and would want to get a win here to stop falling further away from the European qualifying places. Ernesto Valverde’s men have not scored in their last two matches and have managed just two goals in their last four outings. Their wait for a goal could be prolonged here against a Barcelona team possessing the best defence in the league. This is exacerbated by the fact that they will have to do without the services of Oihan Sancet, scorer of eight league goals, for this match due to suspension. They could also be without Dani Garcia and Inigo Lekue who were both withdrawn against Vallecano with injury.

Barcelona responded to their shock 1-0 loss away to Almeria in round 23, by winning their last two matches, all by similar 1-0 score lines. They beat Real Madrid away to take the lead in their two-legged Copa del Rey semi-final tie and beat struggling Valencia at home last time out. Xavi Hernandez’s men have the league’s best defence, as they have conceded just eight goals all season and Almeria’s goal was only their second in 2023 in the league. They have however not dominated teams in attack and five of their eight league matches this year have ended 1-0. Ronald Araujo will miss this clash due to suspension, which could shake up their defensive line. There are no fresh injury concerns from the game against Valencia but they could be boosted by the return of Robert Lewandowski and Pedri from the treatment room.