Ath Bilbao vs Barcelona – Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips – 16.08.2019
| This will be the third time in five seasons that Athletic Bilbao open their La Liga (LL) home campaign against Barcelona. The previous two occasions were feisty affairs, averaging 7.5 yellow cards, with the hosts losing 1-0 both times. |
| However, Bilbao will be confident regardless, after ending 2018/19 in great home form (W4, D1). They averaged exactly 3.0 goals per match across their last three LL home wins, netting over half (five) of their nine goals within those victories inside the opening half-hour. |
| Even a strong start for the hosts is no guarantee of a shock though, as Barcelona lost just one of the six LL away games where they conceded first last season (W2, D3, L1). Within that group of games, four (W1, D3) saw Barcelona equalise with the next match goal, and do so in the same half that produced the opening goal. |
| All of the draws within that sequence also saw one half produce no goals. On the topic of clean sheets, ten of Barcelona’s last 12 league visits here (W6, D5, L1), including all six victories, have seen them shut out the opposition in the first half. |
| Players to watch: Raúl García was at the double in Bilbao’s last LL home game, scoring the brace inside two minutes within the 16th-30th minute period. |
| Three of Barcelona’s last four LL away wins have seen Luis Suárez net in the 60th minute or beyond. |
| Stat attack: Bilbao’s last five home league games against the top-three of 2018/19 have all produced under 2.5 goals (W1, D3, L1). |
| Since November 2014, Barcelona have lost only one LL away game after scoring first. |
| Just one of the last 12 top-flight H2Hs held here has seen both teams score before half-time. |
| Head-to-head matches: ATH BILBAO – BARCELONA | |||||
| 10.02.19 | LL | Ath Bilbao | Barcelona | 0 : 0 | |
| 29.09.18 | LL | Barcelona | Ath Bilbao | 1 : 1 | |
| 18.03.18 | LL | Barcelona | Ath Bilbao | 2 : 0 | |
| 28.10.17 | LL | Ath Bilbao | Barcelona | 0 : 2 | |
| 04.02.17 | LL | Barcelona | Ath Bilbao | 3 : 0 | |
SPAIN: LaLiga – Round 1
Ath Bilbao vs Barcelona
Kick-off: August 15, 20:00
Prediction: Under 3.5 Goals
Odds: [email protected]BWIN
