Barcelona host Athletic Bilbao at Camp Nou, with the reigning champions looking to build on a five-goal statement win against Elche.
Barcelona vs Athletic BilbaoSee All Odds
Barcelona's first home game of the new season sees Hansi Flick's side welcome Athletic Bilbao to Camp Nou, in a fixture originally scheduled for the opening weekend but pushed back due to the number of players from both squads involved in this summer's World Cup.
The champions could hardly have asked for a better start elsewhere, thrashing Elche 5-0 last weekend with Raphinha and Fermin Lopez both scoring twice and new signing Karim Adeyemi also getting on the scoresheet, while a second summer arrival in Anthony Gordon provided two assists off the bench.
Athletic, by contrast, head to Catalonia off the back of a 3-1 defeat to Sevilla and a wider dip in form that has seen them lose four of their last five league matches.
Who is the Betting Favourite in Barcelona vs Bilbao?
According to latest odds at Oddschecker, Barcelona are the strong betting favourites to beat Athletic Club in the La Liga encounter, with an implied win probability of around 79%, while Athletic Club sit at roughly 9%.
Best Odds to Win:
Barcelona: 1/4 (William Hill)
Draw: 6/1 (bet365)
Bilbao: 11/1 (Skybet)
Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Best Bet
Best Bet: Lamine Yamal - Anytime Goalscorer
Odds: 21/20 (Ladbrokes)
Stake: 1.5pts
Yamal has a strong individual history against this exact opponent, with two goals and two assists in six career La Liga appearances against Athletic Bilbao, including the only goal in a narrow away win the last time Barcelona travelled to the Basque Country. His underlying shot data has stayed encouraging even through a quiet run, with shots on target of 0, 1, 2, 2 and 1 across his last five Barcelona starts.
The teenager missed the final six games of last season through injury and had a solid rather than spectacular World Cup, but he was withdrawn quietly in the opening-day win over Elche as Flick managed his workload. Fully up to speed now and facing an Athletic backline who have conceded regularly in recent months, Yamal targeting the side he's traditionally saved his best for makes this an appealing line to open Barcelona's home campaign with.
Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Bet Builder Tip
Our Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Bet Builder Tip includes the following legs:
- Oihan Sancet Over 1.5 – Shots
- Aymeric Laporte Over 1.5 – Tackles
- Anthony Gordon – Anytime Goalscorer
- Raphinha Over 1.5 – Shots On Target
Best odds available of 11/1 at SpreadEx while publishing.
The first leg backs Oihan Sancet for over 1.5 shots, and his volume has been fairly consistent even through Athletic's dip in form. Across his last ten appearances he's recorded shot counts of 3, 3, 1, 0, 2, 2, 1, 0, 5 and 3, clearing this mark in six of those ten outings. As Athletic's main creative and attacking focal point, he remains their most likely source of shot volume even away at Camp Nou against a stronger opponent.
Aymeric Laporte Over 1.5 Tackles follows, leaning on a defender who has picked up straight from where he left off before his spell in Saudi Arabia. He's recorded tackle counts of 3, 1, 2, 2 and 1 across his last five Bilbao appearances, and averages 1.64 tackles per 90 minutes over his last ten league games for the club. With Barcelona's front three of Yamal, Raphinha and Gordon all likely to run at Athletic's backline throughout the evening, Laporte should be kept busy defensively.
Anthony Gordon to score anytime is the next leg, built around a player who has already shown he can influence a game in Barcelona colours. After setting up two goals off the bench on his debut against Elche, Gordon will be eager to get his first goal for the club, and his searing pace looks a dangerous weapon to unleash against a centre-back pairing of Laporte and Alvarez who aren't the quickest.
The final leg is Raphinha Over 1.5 Shots On Target, and his numbers make him one of the most reliable props in Spanish football right now. He's recorded shots on target of 3, 4, 2, 5 and 3 across his last five league games, a run that includes his brace against Elche, and with penalty duties also falling to him, there are multiple routes for him to test Unai Simon throughout the 90 minutes.
Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Team News & Predicted Lineup
Barcelona welcome Athletic Bilbao to the Spotify Camp Nou on Thursday looking to make it two wins from two at the start of their La Liga title defence. Hansi Flick's side could hardly have made a better start, sweeping aside Elche 5-0, while Athletic arrive looking to respond after a 3-1 defeat to Sevilla.
Barcelona Team News
Flick has confirmed that Rodri could make his Barcelona debut, with the summer signing expected to feature for some minutes after recovering from a minor back operation. The manager has also suggested he is keen to see Rodri play alongside Pedri at some point.
Gavi is unlikely to be risked after suffering a knee problem in the victory over Elche. Further assessment has reportedly shown the issue to be a bruise rather than a serious injury, but Flick indicated that he may need around a week to recover. Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji remain sidelined with knee injuries.
Lamine Yamal is also being managed carefully after returning from his post-World Cup break, but Flick praised his contribution against Elche and is expected to keep him involved.
Injuries: Frenkie de Jong, Roony Bardghji
Doubtful/Rotation: Gavi
Expected to feature: Rodri
Predicted Barcelona XI (4-2-3-1): Joan García; Xavi Espart, Eric García, Andreas Christensen, Gerard Martín; Marc Bernal, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Fermín López, Raphinha; Karim Adeyemi
Athletic Bilbao Team News
Athletic have a tougher selection situation heading into their first away game of the season. Yuri Berchiche is suspended after his red card against Sevilla, while Daniel Vivian, Unai Egiluz and Nico Serrano are unavailable through injury.
Nico Williams is expected to return to the starting XI after coming off the bench against Sevilla. His pace could be particularly important if Athletic look to exploit Barcelona in transition.
New head coach Edin Terzic therefore faces a difficult assignment in his first season in charge, particularly against a Barcelona side that scored five times on Matchday 1.
Injuries: Daniel Vivian, Unai Egiluz, Nico Serrano
Suspended: Yuri Berchiche
Available: Nico Williams
Predicted Athletic Bilbao XI (4-2-3-1): Unai Simón; Adama Boiro, Aitor Paredes, Aymeric Laporte, Jesús Areso; Aitor Canales, Gerenabarrena; Álex Berenguer, Oihan Sancet, Nico Williams; Gorka Guruzeta
Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Player Prop Bet
Best Bet: Benat Gerenabarrena - Over 1.5 Fouls
Best Odds: 21/20 (Betway)
Stake: 1pt
Gerenabarrena's disciplinary numbers make this an appealing angle as Athletic try to contain a rampant Barcelona attack. He's averaged 1.68 fouls per 90 minutes across his last ten appearances, and committed five fouls alone in Athletic's opening match of the season against Sevilla, a sign of how often he's dragged into recovery challenges when his side are under pressure.
Barcelona's front line of Yamal, Raphinha and Gordon carries serious pace and directness, and if Athletic are forced into another defensively reactive evening at Camp Nou, Gerenabarrena picking up more than one foul trying to slow down that trio looks a solid line to build around.
Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Match Prediction
Barcelona could hardly have asked for a better start to the new campaign.
The champions dismantled Elche 5-0 in their opener, with Raphinha scoring twice, while Fermín López also found the net twice and new signing Karim Adeyemi opened his Barcelona account.
Athletic, meanwhile, suffered a 3-1 defeat at Sevilla and now face one of the toughest possible away assignments in La Liga. Their task is made even harder by Berchiche's suspension and the absence of three players through injury.
The historical numbers are also heavily in Barcelona's favour. Athletic have not beaten Barcelona in La Liga since August 2019, while Barcelona have gone unbeaten in their last 15 home league meetings with the Basque side.
There is also plenty of attacking firepower for Flick to call upon. Raphinha looked particularly dangerous operating as a false nine against Elche, while Yamal, Fermín and Adeyemi provide further movement around the penalty area.
Athletic's best route is likely to come through Nico Williams on the counter, but keeping Barcelona's wide attackers quiet for 90 minutes looks a huge ask.
Match Prediction: Barcelona 3-0 Athletic Bilbao
