La Liga: Barca Must Extend Undefeated Run Against Bilbao

Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao

The ongoing La Liga title race is indeed becoming exciting, even if we’re just nine matchdays into the 2023-24 campaign. Real Madrid, surprise package Girona, and Barcelona are on top of the pile, but none of them can afford to rest on their laurels with the chasing pack breathing down on their necks.

That is the case when Barcelona host Athletic Bilbao at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Sunday evening, with the former currently in the top three and the latter not far off in fifth place.

Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao had contrasting results prior to the international break.

The Blaugrana were held to a 2-2 draw against Granada, while Los Leones had a 3-0 victory against Almeria, so Xavi’s men are eager to return to winning ways before El Clasico at the end of the month.

Talking Points

The kids are alright for Barcelona

If Barcelona are to win it all again this season, it’ll likely be on the back of superb campaigns from their talented youngsters, and they have a lot of them.

Behind Robert Lewandowski, two of their top scorers are a bunch of 23-year-olds named Ferran Torres and Joao Felix, who have four and three goals, respectively. While not far behind are the likes of Gavi, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, and Fermin Lopez, who have combined for four goals thus far.

Gavi and Pedri have formed a dynamic partnership, and they figure to be the future of Barca’s midfield, with Frenkie de Jong as their pivot man. And here’s a fun fact: Gavi and Pedri have a combined age of 39 years old.

Fermin Lopez is another budding prospect to watch out for, while Lamine Yamal is already an exciting winger, capable of producing La Liga 2023 highlights just like he did last time out when he scored against Granada.

Yamal seems to have been reaching new milestones every week, which would only make Barcelona supporters glee. At 16 years old, the La Masia product is the youngest player to make a Barcelona appearance, a La Liga and Champions League start, and score and assist a La Liga goal.

And during the international break, Yamal became the youngest-ever player to debut for the Spanish national team and scored his first senior goal in their 7-1 demolishing of Georgia in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.

Williams’ fitness questions resurfaces for Athletic Bilbao

Should they have known that Nico Williams would pick up a knock during the international break, Athletic Bilbao wouldn’t have sent him to the Spanish national team.

Williams is currently racing against time to be fit ahead of this Barcelona match, as he limped off the pitch during training because of an apparent back injury.

The last time that he was called up, Williams sustained an adductor injury and was sidelined for two weeks.

Nico Williams is easily one of the most influential players on the pitch for Los Leones. He has yet to score a single goal for them this season, but he already has four assists to his name.

With him sidelined, his brother, Inaki Williams, will have to continue shouldering the heavy load on offence.

History

Barcelona have had Athletic Bilbao’s number here in La Liga in recent times, as they haven’t lost any of their last seven league meetings (W6, D1), with Xavi winning all three without conceding a single goal as the Blaugrana’s head coach.

The Blaugrana have yet to lose a single La Liga game so far this season (W6, D3) but have drawn two of their last three (W1) after they won each of their previous five.

Meanwhile, Athletico Bilbao’s 17 points in their first nine league matches (W5, D2, L2) equal their highest tally at this juncture of a Spanish top-flight campaign this century. They managed to do the exact same thing last season.

These two sides last met in March, where Barcelona came away as 1-0 winners, courtesy of Raphinha’s goal before the end of the first half.

That victory was pivotal for Xavi’s men because it tightened their grip on the top spot ahead of their El Clasico against Real Madrid, which coincidentally is their next league game after this weekend.

Betting Tip

The SBOTOP La Liga 2023 odds favour Barcelona’s chances of extending their winning streak against Athletic Bilbao. The hosts are priced to win at 1.64, whereas Athletic Bilbao are at 4.60 odds to win, and a draw is at 3.70 in the 1X2 market.

Barcelona may be missing several key players for this contest, but they should be able to come away with another home win.

 

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