Prediction: Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona

Verdict: Athletic Bilbao win

Best odds: 59/20

Bookmaker: ZetBet

A spot in the Spanish Super Cup final will be on the line when Athletic Bilbao face Barcelona in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

Athletic enter the semifinals as Copa del Rey holders, while Barcelona qualify for the tournament as last season’s La Liga runners-up.

Athletic Bilbao

Los Leones secured their first Copa del Rey trophy in 40 years by defeating Mallorca in a penalty shootout in the final last April.

Athletic Bilbao now travel to Saudi Arabia aiming for their fourth Spanish Super Cup title and their second since the competition adopted its four-team format, having last won in 2021.

Ernesto Valverde’s side arrives on a strong run of form, unbeaten in 15 consecutive competitive matches, including six wins and four draws in their last 10 league games. This consistency has propelled them to fourth in La Liga, just two points behind third-placed Barcelona.

Despite their positive momentum, Athletic faced a surprisingly stern test in their Copa del Rey opener against fourth-tier Logrones, needing penalties to progress after a goalless 120 minutes.

As they prepare for Wednesday’s semifinal, Bilbao will hope to replicate their extra-time triumph over Barcelona in last season’s Copa del Rey. However, they have not defeated the Blaugrana in regulation time since a 1-0 victory in February 2020.

Team News

Yeray Alvarez, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, and Oihan Sancet are all dealing with injury concerns and will undergo assessments by Athletic’s medical team ahead of this game.

Valverde is likely to make multiple changes to his lineup after utilizing Saturday’s Copa del Rey match to provide game time for fringe players. Unai Simon, Andoni Gorosabel, Dani Vivian, and Yuri Berchiche are expected to return to the starting XI for the clash.

In midfield, Benat Prados and Mikel Jauregizar are in contention for starting roles, while Nico Williams and Inaki Williams are set to reclaim their spots on Athletic’s flanks.

Barcelona

Like Bilbao, Barcelona advanced in the Copa del Rey with a victory over lower-league opposition, but they had a far easier time dispatching Barbastro than Athletic did against Logrones. Robert Lewandowski scored twice, while Eric Garcia and Pablo Torre also found the net in a commanding 4-0 win over the fourth-tier side.

This triumph provided some relief for the Blaugrana, who entered the winter break after a poor run in La Liga, winning just one of their final seven games of 2024 (D2, L4), a stark contrast to their early-season form, which saw them win 11 of their first 12 league matches (L1).

Hansi Flick’s team now sits third in the La Liga standings, trailing second-placed Atletico Madrid by three points, with Atletico holding a game in hand, and leaders Real Madrid by five points.

While they will look to reignite their league campaign against Getafe on January 18, Barcelona first head to Saudi Arabia with the goal of securing their 15th Spanish Super Cup title and second under the current four-team format.

The Catalans reached the Super Cup final in the last two seasons, defeating Real Betis on penalties in 2023 and earning a 2-0 victory over Osasuna in last season’s semifinals.

Team News

Barcelona have included Dani Olmo and Pau Victor in their squad for the trip, but their participation in Wednesday’s semi-final remains uncertain due to ongoing registration issues.

Hector Fort and Andreas Christensen are expected to be on the bench after recovering from injuries, though Ferran Torres’s fitness remains in doubt.

Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal is back in the squad following a two-match absence due to an ankle injury, but the 17-year-old may not start given his limited time in training.

Hansi Flick is poised to make several changes from the side that defeated Barbastro, with Inaki Pena, Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde, Gavi, and Raphinha likely to be included in the starting XI.

Conclusion

Barcelona may have cruised past Barbastro in the Copa del Rey, but their recent struggles against La Liga opponents – losing four of their last seven matches – highlight lingering vulnerabilities. Considering Athletic’s strong form, with seven wins in their last nine competitive games within 90 minutes, the Basque side could have the edge in this semifinal clash, even though most bookies place far shorter odds on Barcelona.

Verdict: Athletic Bilbao win

Best odds: 59/20

Bookmaker: ZetBet