Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Betting Odds, Tips, Predictions, Preview 22nd October 2023

Prices from the bookmakers reflect how much they expect Barcelona to pull away with three points this coming Sunday. They face Athletic Bilbao in the La Liga and the latter could be in for a whacking, as Barcelona look to add three valuable points.

Barcelona are currently looking at 21 points on their account, having played nine matches, leaving them two places off the current La Liga leaders. Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao find themselves as number five in the La Liga with 17 points following nine rounds.

Athletic Bilbao will not be short on motivation for their clash with the match favourites Barcelona. Although the odds are against them, a narrow win this coming Sunday will see them move ahead of their upcoming opponents in the table.

Barcelona are confident they will be scoring goals in their next assignment in the La Liga, as they show off very admirable numbers from their past ten matches. The hosts scored 2.2 goals on average per match, or 22 goals in total, while allowing 12 goals against, for an average of 1.2 per outing. They managed four clean sheets along the way.

Athletic Bilbao scored 17 times in their previous ten matches, an average of 1.7 per game. They also conceded ten goals for an average of one a game, pulling off five clean sheets in these.

Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao in their last two meetings, as they followed up a 4-0 win with a 1-0 victory.

Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction

Barcelona Form

Barcelona collected seven points from their last three matches, as they ran out 1-0 and 0-1 winners against Sevilla and FC Porto, respectively. Against Granada, they had to settle for a draw after a 2-2 draw. Barcelona have been in potent form at a neutral venue, winning no less than five of the past six La Liga matches here. They also hammered in 15 goals, while letting in four as they also lost once.

Athletic Bilbao Form

In their last three matches, Athletic Bilbao drew 2-2 with Getafe, lost 3-0 against Real Sociedad and beat Almeria 3-0. In their last six away matches in the La Liga, Athletic Bilbao won twice, while also recording two draws. They endured two defeats in this run, with a scoreline from these matches saying six goals conceded and five scored.

Barcelona have built up a nice momentum, and we doubt Athletic Bilbao are capable of getting in the way of the home side at a neutral venue, as we aim for the home win.

In the last two games against teams in the top six, Athletic Bilbao claimed zero wins and zero points. They scored zero and conceded five goals. Barcelona are yet to experience the foul smell of failure this season in the La Liga. They haven't lost a single game, in stead recording six wins and three draws. Athletic Bilbao have a record of five wins, two draws and two defeats in the La Liga.

Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Squads

Barcelona Squad

The 43-year-old coach of the home team, Xavi Hernandez, will select the lineup against Athletic Bilbao from the squad below. The information in the brackets refers to goals scored and matches played in the La Liga this season:

Inaki Pena (0/0), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (0/9), Alex Balde (0/8), Andreas Christensen (0/8), Inigo Martinez (0/3), Joao Cancelo (2/6), Jules Kounde (1/9), Marcos Alonso (0/3), Ronald Araujo (0/4), Sergi Roberto (1/4), Fermin Lopez (1/4), Ferran Torres (3/8), Frenkie de Jong (1/6), Gavi (1/9), Ilkay Gundogan (0/9), Oriol Romeu (0/9), Pedri (1/2), Joao Felix (1/6), Lamine Yamal (1/9), Raphinha (2/6), Robert Lewandowski (5/8).

Athletic Bilbao Squad

Below is the full team squad of Athletic Bilbao. The manager Valverde will pick his starting XI against Barcelona from these players:

Alex Padilla (0/0), Julen Agirrezabala (0/0), Unai Simon (0/9), Aitor Paredes (0/9), Daniel Vivian (0/9), Inigo Lekue (0/5), Oscar de Marcos (0/7), Peru Nolaskoain (0/0), Yeray Alvarez (0/5), Yuri Berchiche (1/7), Ander Herrera (0/6), Dani Garcia (1/6), Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta (0/6), Junior Bita (0/0), Mikel Vesga (2/7), Oihan Sancet (2/7), Raul Garcia (0/4), Alex Berenguer (0/8), Asier Villalibre (1/5), Carlos Mattheus (0/0), Gorka Guruzeta (4/9), Iker Muniain (0/8), Inaki Williams (4/9), Luis Bilbao (0/0), Malcom Ares (0/0), Nico Williams (0/6).

Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Team News

The injured and absent list looks to be stretched wide for Barcelona, as they prepare to meet Athletic Bilbao, since seven could be missing.

Due to various ailments Alex Balde, Lamine Yamal, Jules Kounde, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Frenkie de Jong and Pedri will be absent from the squad, Barcelona are able to field against Athletic Bilbao this coming Sunday.

Athletic Bilbao could have a whole host of players on the injured and absent players for their next match, as seven players are nursing various problems.

Names like Nico Williams, Oscar de Marcos, Yeray Alvarez, Mikel Vesga, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Nico Williams and Peru Nolaskoain most likely won't be deemed fit enough to play Barcelona.

Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Lineups

Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao H2H

Barcelona won 1-0, followed up winning 4-0 before a third win by 4-0 secure total dominance in their last three matches against Athletic Bilbao. Barcelona tend to have the upper hand against Athletic Bilbao, grabbing all three points six times in ten matches. The bookies best betting odds on a home win are at 1/2.

Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Results

At least one team managed to keep a clean sheet six times in the last ten matches between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona. Odds on both teams not to score are best priced at 19/20 with the bookies.

Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Betting Tips

Inaki Williams shows decent form right now for Athletic Bilbao, as he scored three goals in his last six games in the La Liga. The visitors need more from him, though, when facing Barcelona, who are strong favourites on Sunday. Siding with Robert Lewandowski also look a nice prospect as he scored four goals in his last six La Liga matches.

Barcelona won nine of their previous 10 outings across all tournaments on home soil. They lost one as well, whilst visitors Athletic Bilbao won three of their last 10 matches away from home. They drew three and lost four. Athletic Bilbao managed a thoroughly decent five clean sheets in their previous 10 away matches. Barcelona held on for a clean sheet in seven of their last 10 home games.

Less than three came out four times in the past ten encounters between Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona, as both teams not to score was a winning bet six times. Barcelona performed 1.7 goals on average, whereas Athletic Bilbao averaged 0.6 goals. Barcelona scored an average of 2.7 goals in their last ten matches in which over 2.5 goals happened seven times. Over 2.5 goals came up in five of Athletic Bilbao's previous ten matches across all tournaments. They managed to score an average of 1.7 goals in these matches.