- Barcelona have won 13 and lost only two of 18 away La Liga games in 2024-25, the best away record in the division.
- Barcelona won the last H2H against Athletic Bilbao 2-0 away in the 2024 Super Cup.
Barcelona are top of La Liga heading into the final round of fixtures on Sunday with 85 points from 37 games, while Athletic Bilbao are fourth on 70 after the same number of matches. A win for either side could seal Champions League qualification for the Basque side and reaffirm Barça’s position at the summit of the division, so there is a lot at stake for both teams in this Athletic Bilbao vs FC Barcelona prediction. Athletic will be up for this and have won their last three La Liga games in impressive fashion, beating Getafe 2-0 and Valencia 1-0. Ernesto Valverde has made the Basque club even more disciplined and tactically united since he returned to the dugout in 2022 and they are a very tough team to beat at San Mamés.
Athletic have a strong home record in the Spanish top-flight with 11 wins, six draws and only one defeat from 18 games. Our Athletic Bilbao vs FC Barcelona preview suggests they average 1.78 goals per game in Bilbao, which is a healthy total of 32 for the campaign. Hansi Flick has got Barca playing in a way that is true to their DNA with high-tempo positional play, a daring high line and fluid passing that can dominate games. The Bavarian has made them more attacking again and the likes of Raphinha, who has four goals in his last five Barca appearances, have given him another offensive weapon to wield besides goal machine Robert Lewandowski. The Pole remains the safest bet for an anytime goal at San Mamés, where Barca have won two and lost once in their previous four visits in all competitions, so odds of +110 are good enough for our Athletic Bilbao vs FC Barcelona prediction.
This should be a great game between two footballing ideologies – the collectivism of Basque football and the ‘Barca DNA’ that Flick has helped to revive. Athletic’s 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 system is highly pressing and disciplined in defence, with a midfield that ensures their backline is rarely caught out at home. When considering Athletic Bilbao vs FC Barcelona betting tips, it's important to note that Flick’s team can be exposed by the counter-attack, but have the ball skills and ability to pick a lock in tight games like this. Barca’s defence is not impregnable with 19 goals conceded on their travels in La Liga, but they can score enough to win this kind of game. The Athletic Bilbao vs FC Barcelona odds reflect the recent form of both clubs, with Barca +124 favourites to win, Athletic +223 and the draw +290. The visitors are rightful favourites, but Athletic are a tough team to break down and will press Barca all over the field, so we’re going for a tight Barca win. Oihan Sancet has been the top scorer for the hosts with 15 goals in 28 La Liga appearances, while Lewandowski has 25 in 33 for Barca, so he is a clear pick in the anytime goalscorer market. This Athletic Bilbao vs FC Barcelona prediction highlights the key attacking threats for both teams.
