Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Betting Tips

Camp Nou in Barcelona will serve as the host for the match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao on 1st February 2021 at 01:30 IST. Both the teams will be looking to make the best of the remaining season as they have had a pretty average starts in the current season of La Liga, with Bilbao being more desperate than Barcelona.

Barcelona Form & Team News

Barcelona are currently in the third position of the La Liga points table with 37 points from 19 matches. They have won 11 matches, drew four and lost four matches. They have a pretty average home record according to their standards as they have five wins, three draws and one loss. In the 19 matches, they have scored 39 goals and have conceded just 17 goals. They are coming into this fixture with a 0-2 win over Eibar.

Barcelona will be without the services of their star defender Gerard Piqué, who is out with some unknown reasons. Other absentees are Ansu Fati, Philippe Coutinho and Sergi Roberto. Koeman will surely miss these injured players, but is likely to stick to the same playing XI that beat Eibar. Lionel Messi is the team’s leading goal scorer with 11 goals and also has two assists to his name. The Frenchman Antoine Griezmann is leading the assists charts with four assists to his name.

Athletic Bilbao Form & Team News

Athletic Bilbao are in ninth place with 24 points from the 19 matches played in La Liga this season. They have more losses than wins, but still are in the top ten. They have won seven matches, drew three and lost nine matches in La Liga this season. They have scored 26 goals and have conceded 23 goals in the 19 matches played this season. They are coming off a 5-1 win over Getafe in the league.

Four players are out due to injuries and won’t be available for the clash against Barcelona, including Mikel Balenziaga, Iñigo Vicente, Yuri Berchiche and Peru Nolaskoain. Marcelino won’t bother much about the absentees as the core of his team is very likely to play. Iker Muniain and Inaki Williams have four goals each and are the team’s joint leading goal scorers. Inaki Williams is also leading the assist charts with three assists. Bilbao are more likely to stick with the same winning combination.

Odds by Casumo

According to the Casumo sportsbook, Barcelona are the favorites to win the match and are placed at 1.40. While the underdogs Athletic Bilbao are placed at 7.00 and the draw at 5.00 odds.

Check out our La Liga Odds Here

 

Our Tipster’s Angle

This fixture is slightly tending towards the home side Barcelona, as they have dominated Bilbao over the years. Barcelona have won 11 and lost just four matches in the last 18 head to head matches. So, it is evident that Barcelona will emerge victorious in the end.

Tip 1: Both Teams To Score

In the last six matches that Athletic Bilbao played, both the teams scored in all the six matches. Also, both the teams scored in the last four away matches that Athletic Bilbao played in La Liga. Even both the teams scored in the last two head to head matches in all competitions played this season. Apart from that, both the teams scored a goal in all the last three matches that Barcelona played in La Liga this season. With the attacking strengths that both the teams have, both the teams are more likely to score at least a goal at 1.70 odds available at the Casumo sportsbook.

Tip 2: Lionel Messi To Score

The Argentine superstar Lionel Messi is the tournament’s second highest goal scorer with 11 goals from 17 matches. He is just one goal behind the leaders Luis Suarez and Youssef En-Nesyri. Barcelona has played Athletic Bilbao once this season in La Liga, where they won the away match 2-3 courtesy of two goals in either half by Messi. Also, he has scored seven goals in the last seven La Liga matches. Apart from that, Messi has scored five goals in the last seven head to head matches played in La Liga. By considering these facts, Lionell Messi is more likely to find the back of the net at 1.72 odds available on the Casumo sportsbook.

Conclusion

Barcelona is more likely to bounce back from the slow start that they have got and pose a serious title threat to Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. While Athletic Bilbao will be hoping for a season better than the last one and at least make it to Europa League next season. Summarizing a couple of bets mentioned above.

1. Both Teams To Score @ 1.70
2. Lionel Messi To Score @ 1.72

Check out our La Liga Odds Here