Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Predictions

• Barcelona have not lost a home fixture in La Liga in 27 matches, last falling to defeat against Real Betis in November 2018.
• Four of Barcelona’s last five league matches have featured under 3.5 goals.
• Both teams have scored in only 14 of Athletic Bilbao’s 30 league games this season.

Barcelona can extend sensational home record

Courtesy of a spectacular overhead kick from Aritz Aduriz, Athletic Bilbao defeated Barcelona on the opening day of the season but, with eight games remaining, the Catalan giants are on course to win La Liga.

That was one of only five defeats Barcelona have suffered this season and they have all come on the road.

Quique Setien’s side have won 14 of their 15 league fixtures at the Camp Nou this season, drawing the other match 0-0 with Real Madrid in December.

They have been razor sharp at both ends of the pitch at home this term, netting 47 times and conceding only 12 goals in their 15 home assignments.

Central to that has been their squad depth at the back with Samuel Umtiti, Clement Lenglet and Gerard Pique rotating in the centre, and youngster Junior Firpo proving an able deputy at left-back.

Stability at back has been key to Barca title pursuit

They have looked settled in defence and that has translated to 11 clean sheets in La Liga in 2019/20, the latest of which came against top-four hopefuls Sevilla last time out.

Barcelona won the shot count 9-6 on that occasion and saw 68 per cent of the ball so may have felt they deserved more from the contest but it was another disciplined display which made it one defeat in nine matches in the league.

In Athletic Bilbao they are taking on a side who are also difficult to break down and have been involved in low-scoring affairs for much of this season.

The Basque side’s matches have featured an average of only 1.97 goals per game this term – a testament to their defensive work given they have devastating attacking players such as Iñaki Williams and Raul Garcia at their disposal.

Bilbao have been reliant on home performances

Their recent 1-0 home win over Real Betis spelt the end of Rubi’s tenure and they have also held Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw at the San Mamés since the league’s resumption.

But while they have conceded only eight league goals at home all season, that figure balloons to 18 on the road. They have, in fact, won only two of their 15 away contests this term – against lowly Osasuna and Real Valladolid outfits.

Although the absence of fans has been shown to dilute home advantage, that sentiment is less applicable to Barcelona, whose slick, passing football is aided by the Camp Nou pitch.

But Lionel Messi and co. have been less barnstorming, more efficient in their recent wins on home soil, with five of their last six wins at the Camp Nou featuring under 3.5 goals. That could be the best match prediction for when they host Bilbao.

In terms of a correct score prediction, each of Barcelona’s last four league wins have been to nil so it could be worth backing a 2-0 success for the title hopefuls.

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