Ath Bilbao vs Barcelona prediction: SPAIN: Super Cup betting tips on match 2025-01-07 19:00.
[p]Athletic Bilbao won their first Copa del Rey trophy in 40 years last season which earned them a place in this four team Supercopa de España in Jeddah. Athletic needed penalties to inch past Logroñés in the Copa del Rey at the weekend, although the victory did extend their unbeaten competitive run to 15 matches (W11, D4). They put that proud run on the line in this semi-final clash against Barcelona as they look to preserve their record of reaching the final of this competition in each of their previous six appearances (three titles).[/p]
[p]That is reflected in their recent Super Cup record, having won four of their recent six matches (D1, L1), a run which includes two H2H wins. Playing the Blaugrana outside of La Liga seems to bring the best out of Athletic, as they have won four of the last five H2Hs in cup competitions (L1) although they did lose 2-1 to Barcelona in the opening stages of La Liga this season.[/p]
[p]Barcelona put aside the fiasco surrounding the failed registration of Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor to cruise past fourth-tier club Barbastro 4-0 in the Copa del Rey at the weekend. Consecutive league defeats to end 2024 saw the Catalans fall behind in La Liga title race, but the weekend win now gives hope of recording back-to-back victories for the first time since November.[/p]
[p]Recent performances in the Super Cup haven’t been particularly dominant, although Barcelona are the most successful club in the history of the competition with 14 titles and are looking to reach a third successive final. Barça have won only five of their last 11 Super Cup matches (L6), and considering their last three games in this competition have been decided by 2+ goal margins (W2, L1), this game could be decided handsomely one way or the other.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Iñaki Williams has six goals in ten cup competitions against Barcelona, with one of those an extra-time winner in Athletic’s 3-2 Super Cup final win in January 2021. Pedri’s last goal in this competition was in a 3-1 win over Real Madrid in the 2023 final, while his two H2H goals have kept Barcelona unbeaten across 90 minutes (W1, D1).[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Only four of Barcelona’s last 14 competitive goals have been scored in the first half.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Sridhar B[/i][/p]