Prediction: Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona

Verdict: Draw

Best Odds: 5/2

Bookmaker: Bet365

With a spot in the semi-final of this year’s Copa del Rey up for grabs in midweek, Barcelona will make the trip to the San Mamés Barria on Thursday night.

Athletic Bilbao

Starting with the hosts, while Athletic Bilbao may have managed to book their spot in the quarter-final of this year’s Copa del Rey thanks to penalty shootout victories against Elche and Tenerife, Gaizka Garitano’s men are in the midst of a sluggish patch. Slumping to a 2-0 defeat at home against Getafe last weekend, Los Leones have begun freefalling away from the European spots and are without a La Liga victory since the 8th of December. Remarkably drawing five of their last six appearances in Spain’s top-tier, the former Eibar boss has been vocal about his side’s issues in the final third. Drawing a blank against Getafe last time out, fans around the San Mamés Barria have seen their side record just a single strike on home soil in over 300 minutes of action. Although Bilbao might be in the midst of a worrying spell, they should be boosted by their most recent meeting against the defending champions. Picking up a stunning 1-0 win when Barcelona came to town earlier in the season, Thursday’s hosts are unbeaten in their last three matchups against the Spanish giants.

Team News

Athletic’s usual cup keeper Iago Herrerin is suspended following his red card against Tenerife, so you can expect to see regular shot-stopper Unai Simon in goal as the Blaugrana come to town.

Oscar de Marcos is also a long-term injury absence but besides that Athletic should have everyone available for this key clash.

Barcelona

As for the visitors, while new Barca boss Quique Setién may have seen his side snatch a 2-1 win off of Levante at the Nou Camp last week, Blaugrana sit three points adrift of Real Madrid and top spot in the La Liga table. Including being hit with a 2-0 defeat away at Valencia last month, the former European champions have won just three of their last seven La Liga appearances and have continued to show some worrying struggles on the road. Failing to win any of their last three matches on their travels, including dropping points away at relegation scrappers Espanyol, the former Real Betis manager has seen his squad land just a pair of top-flight victories outside of Catalonia since the 19th of October. While the reigning La Liga champions might be showing some continued issues at the back, it is no surprise that attacking talisman Lionel Messi has continued to shine this season. Bagging a brace in Barca’s 5-0 win over Leganes in the last round of the Copa del Rey, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner has already recorded 19 strikes since opening the 2019/2020 campaign, including five goals in his last seven outings.

Team News

Oumsane Dembele faces a long spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious hamstring tear on his return to training, while Luis Suarez remains sidelined.

Arturo Vidal, who missed Sunday’s win over Levante, trained with the squad ahead of Thursday’s match and has since been passed fit for the Copa tie in Bilbao.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides faced off earlier in the season, Athletic Bilbao picked up a 1-0 win at the San Mamés Barria.
• Also unbeaten in their last three matches against Barcelona, the two sides played out back-to-back draws last season.
• Bilbao have failed to win any of their last seven La Liga matches, drawing five of those contests.
• Lionel Messi has scored five goals in his last seven matches across all competitions.
• Barcelona have failed to win any of their last three La Liga matches away from the Nou Camp, drawing two of those contests.

Conclusion

While the reigning champions might open Thursday’s contest as a favourite with the bookmakers, Bilbao will certainly prove to be a tough test. Snatching a 1-0 win when they welcomed Barcelona to the San Mamés Barria earlier in the season, the two sides also played out back-to-back stalemates last year. Coupled with Quique Setién’s men failing to win any of their last three away matches against La Liga opposition and Atletico drawing five of their last seven contests, we’re backing a similar stalemate in Bilbao on Thursday.

Verdict: Draw

Best Odds: 5/2

Bookmaker: Bet365