Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Predictions

• Barcelona have won eight games in succession.
• Barca have won their last four games 2-0
• Athletic Club have failed to score (90 min) in four of their last seven matches

Barca in hot form ahead of Saudi clash

Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao face off in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday with Hansi Flick’s holders favoured to progress. Barca beat the Basques 2-0 at the same stage last year before going on to thrash Real Madrid 5-2 in a memorable final in Jeddah.

The La Liga leaders have plenty of momentum after winning their last eight competitive matches, including a 2-0 success in Saturday’s derby clash with Espanyol.

Meanwhile, Athletic Club are winless in 90 minutes across their last five games in all competitions, including a Copa del Rey clash with third-tier Ourense. Ernesto Valverde’s side still have the memory of a recent Super Cup victory over Barca, having defeated the Blaugrana in the 2021 final.

Basque side have been way below their best

But they are long odds to repeat that feat at around 5/1 in the match betting. Gavi is out for Barca and Ronald Araujo is a doubt to feature for personal reasons while Yuri Berchiche, Aymeric Laporte, and Alex Berenguer are Athletic’s injury absentees.

The Bilbao club’s football this season leaves much to be desired. Defensively, they concede few chances, but let in too many goals, and offensively, they create a lot of chances but convert very few.

The output of Nico Williams, Oihan Sancet, Berenguer and Gorka Guruzeta has been reduced to less than half of what it was in the last two seasons. Barcelona are backable at 1/2 for the victory and may be worth supporting in the win to nil market at greater odds. Flick’s side have kept four consecutive clean sheets in a quartet of 2-0 wins with goalkeeper Joan Garcia in top form.