With a rivalry that goes back to their first official meeting in 1920, two of the oldest teams in Spain will face each other when FC Barcelona hosts Athletic Club on Sunday.
Before the international break, Barcelona dropped points away from home with the match against Granada CF ending 2-2. Athletic Club went into the international break with a spring in their step, having triumphed over UD Almeria 3-0.
The visitors will hope to continue their fine form. The hosts will take the match as a chance to get back on track and gain ground on Real Madrid and Girona, who are ahead of them on the La Liga standings.
FC Barcelona vs Athletic Club Main Match Info
- Date: October 22, 2023
- Kickoff Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Stadium: Olímpic Lluís Companys
- Location: Barcelona, Spain
- Last match: Athletic Club – Barcelona 0:1 (March 12, 2023, La Liga)
FC Barcelona vs Athletic Club Predictions and Odds
- Pick: Barcelona to win
- Odds: -147.06 (Tonybet)
Athletic have managed to triumph over Barca in recent years in knockout championships. However, Barca have the upper hand when it comes to La Liga, having only lost once in the last 19 meetings.
Against Athletic, Barcelona manager Xavi has an impressive record of not conceding a single goal and scoring nine goals in 3 matches. Barcelona have only dropped two points in the last 19 home fixtures against Athletic Club.
FC Barcelona vs Athletic Club Betting Tips
- Pick: Only Barcelona to score.
- Odds: +183 (Tonybet)
With three clean sheets in the last three encounters, expect the trend to continue. Athletic Club have a poor record against Barcelona and will struggle to create and convert their chances.
Barcelona have averaged 15.8 shots per game (ranked 2nd) this season and only allow 3.7 shots per game (ranked 2nd). They are a fairly balanced team, defensively and offensively. Barca’s first-choice goalkeeper, Ter Stegen, is joint top on the clean sheet charts with four; expect him to extend it to five on Sunday. The stage is set for a match that will impact the race for La Liga’s champion.
