Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction & Betting Tips - LaLiga

Prediction published on 21/06/2020, 06:14  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 21/06/2020 at 07:16 in LaLiga Predictions

Barcelona had their first slip since football resumed, in their game against Sevilla and will hope to return to winning ways when they host Athletic Club on Tuesday. Going to this match, Barcelona are top of La Liga standings with 65 points while Athletic have 42 points, in ninth place. The race for the title is tight and after dropping two points in the draw with Sevilla, Barcelona will want to look at this as a must win clash. Second placed Real Madrid, with a game in hand, are just three points behind Barca, which should be a motivation for the Catalans. However, Athletic Club will not hand over the points easily; they too need them, as they have in sight a place in either Champions League or Europa League. Barcelona failed to win for the first time in three matches since La Liga resumed as they drew with Sevilla. One thing though, Barca have not conceded a goal in the three matches since resumption. They last lost in early March, to Real Madrid and have since won three of four matches, and one draw and kept clean sheets in all the four. Samuel Umtiti is back for this clash though a few players remain absent with injuries but Barca should be able to cope. They have won seven of the last 10 league matches and haven’t lost in their 15 league matches at home this season. On only one occasion at home have they played to a draw – against Real Madrid. They hit Leganes 2-0 in their last home match, making it three straight clean sheets in league matches at home. In four of their last five league matches at home, Barca have scored two or more goals.

After straight draws with Atletico Madrid and Eibar, Athletic Club found their winning formula with a 1-0 win over Real Betis. Against Barca, they will have a different kind of challenge, especially looking at the fact that they haven’t been scoring many goals while they have been conceding too. In their three matches since resumption, they have one clean sheet and have conceded three goals. In La Liga, Athletic Club have shown great improvement; they have not lost any of the last five. In the last 15 La Liga matches, they have won just three. Away from home, they aren’t the best to bank on, Athletic Club have managed just two wins in 15 away league matches this season. In three of their last four away league matches, they have conceded two or more goals and have no clean sheet in six straight away league matches.