Prediction and odds for the game: Barcelona (4/11) v Athletic Bilbao (15/2)
We are backing Ansu Fati to be an anytime goalscorer at odds of 11/8
When: Tuesday, 23rd June 2020, Kick-off 21:00
Where: The Nou Camp
On Tuesday night, Barcelona host Athletic Bilbao at the Nou Camp, in a game that could be massive in the home teams’ chances of retaining their La Liga crown.
Barcelona
The Catalan giants are second the table, behind arch-rivals Real Madrid courtesy of Los Blancos superior head-to-head record in this season’s meetings. The title race is now out of the hands of the home team. They must keep winning and hoping that Zinedine Zidane’s team slips up along the way.
Under normal circumstances, a goalless draw at Sevilla, would not be the end of the world. However, with the title race on such a knife-edge, any lost points could be crucial. The draw in Andalusia ended a three-game winning run in the top-flight for Quique Setien’s team.
There was a positive for the reigning Spanish champions in the fact that they kept their fourth clean sheet in their last five matches in La Liga.
Barcelona are undoubtedly one of the toughest teams to beat on their own patch. The Blaugrana are unbeaten in 27 matches at the Nou Camp in the Spanish top-flight. More recently, they have recorded seven straight wins on home soil in all competitions. Setien’s team has been prolific on home soil of late in La Liga, scoring at least two goals in four of their last five matches.
Athletic Bilbao
The visitors still have a realistic chance of a top-six finish and European football next season. The team from the Basque country are five points outside the top-six with eight games to go this season.
They head into this potentially daunting clash on the back of a four-game unbeaten run in the Spanish top-flight. Last time out, the visitors recorded a 1-0 home win over Real Betis. Both teams had scored in their four league matches in the Spanish top-flight.
Athletic have been poor travellers of late in La Liga, as they have won just once in their last seven league games on their travels. Their recent away matches in the Spanish top-flight have at least offered entertainment value when it comes to goals, as there have been over 2.5 goals scored in their last four matches on the road in La Liga.
Athletic are one of the few teams to have caused Barcelona problems in recent seasons. The visitors are unbeaten against the Catalan giants in four games in all competitions, having won the last two meetings 1-0. However, the last three meetings between these two teams took place at San Mames. Picking up a result at the Nou Camp is a very different matter.
Conclusion
We do believe that Barcelona will record a victory. However, a home win offers very little value. Instead, we are backing both teams to score despite a recent defensive improvement from Barcelona, as Athletic tend to score away from home. The home side are prolific on home soil. The other bet we are backing is Ansu Fati to be an anytime goalscorer, as he did not feature against Sevilla, so should be fresh for this clash.
Verdict: We are backing Ansu Fati to be an anytime scorer at odds of 11/8 and/or both teams to score at odds of 10/11. (All odds are taken from Bet365).
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