La Liga: Bilbao and Barca can Sign Off in Style

Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona

Primera Division Champions Barcelona head across to the Basque this weekend to take on fourth placed Athletic Bilbao as the 2024/25 La Liga season draws to a close.

The Catalans have stormed to the title under Hansi Flick, as part of a domestic treble including the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa, while Ernesto Valverde’s Bilbao have comfortably qualified for next season’s Champions League. They celebrated their place with a 1-0 win away to Valencia last week while Barcelona slipped 3-2 at home to fifth placed Villarreal.    

Both teams can be pleased with their season’s work. The Blaugrana are disappointed not to have won the Champions League, losing a thrilling semi-final to Inter Milan, but they have swept up the prizes back in Spain. Athletic Club were a little flat too after they lost the chance to reach the Europa Cup final at their home ground, losing their semi-final to Manchester United, but they have been consistently strong in the Primera Division, settling into fourth place and looking forward to Champions League football next season.      

So while La Liga: Athletic Club vs Barcelona doesn’t have too much riding on it, these are two teams hoping to end the season on a high and I’m pretty sure we’ll see plenty of entertainment at a bouncing San Mames Stadium. 

 

Talking Points

Has Nico played his last game for Bilbao?

The big talk around the Basque this week is around the future of star winger Nico Williams who has been the subject of transfer speculation ever since his electric displays for Spain at Euro 2024. Barcelona have been reported to be tracking the 22-year-old star and his pace, trickery and delivery would be an asset to any side; though the Blaugrana have plenty of forwards with just those qualities. Real Madrid have moved to distance themselves from the player – read into that what you think – and there are plenty of other admirers around Europe, including Premier League club Arsenal who are considering an 80m move according to the English press. 

Ahead of the final day Williams is an injury doubt, having been sidelined with a groin injury and Valverde will not risk him unless he is 100 per cent, and that leaves top scorer Oihan Sancet and attacking midfielder Gorka Guruzeta as the main attacking threat, with Nico’s older brother Inaki also in line for a start against Barcelona.         

 

Flick extends his stay in Barcelona

This has been a truly memorable campaign for Barcelona, and when they stormed the recent El Clasico to beat Real Madrid for the fourth time this season, their La Liga title was as good as won, confirmed when they beat Espanyol the following week thanks to goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres. After losing to the Yellow Submarine last week manager Flick gave his players two days off at the beginning of the week. The break was well deserved and also a chance for Flick to reflect on his recent decision to extend his stay in Catalonia, signing an extended contract which takes him to 2027.

The club released a statement saying: “Hansi Flick has made Barca fans very happy in his first season for many reasons: for the belief he has given the team, for the epic comebacks, for the trophies. The excitement that he has brought to the club has made FC Barcelona a feared rival once again in Europe.”

Indeed it has; and the players deserve their share of the credit, from star striker Robert Lewandowski with his 25 goals and teen sensation Yamal who has made 13 assists, through to ever improving centre back Eric Garcia and returned keeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen…each has played a part in a hugely successful campaign.              

 

History

With 52 wins to 14 the Blaugrana have bossed the head to head Athletic Club vs Barcelona results since 1993, and they have won both meetings this term, 2-1 in the league and 2-0 in the Supercopa semi-final.    

Both teams come into the match with three wins from the last six games, one draw and two defeats; and Bilbao’s superb home league record of 11 wins, six draws and one defeat will come face to face with Barca’s away record of 13 wins, three draws and two defeats.    

 

Betting Tip

The pre-match Athletic Club vs Barcelona betting odds make this a marginal away win. Bilbao are priced, here at SBOTOP, at 2.84 to win with the Blaugrana at 2.09 and the draw is at 3.35. Barca slipped up last week and they can be forgiven for the odd lapse now they are champions, but they will go for a big finish in Bilbao, while the hosts will also want to sign off with a bang in front of their own fans.  

   

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