Looking to take another giant leap towards defending their La Liga crown, Barcelona will travel to the Basque Country on Saturday night when they meet Athletic Bilbao.
While Barca might have failed to complete what would have been an iconic Copa del Rey comeback earlier in the week, Hansi Flick’s superstar squad are leading the chase at the top of the La Liga table and they will be desperate to widen their buffer over El Clasico rivals Real Madrid.
Watching their respective Copa del Rey adventure come to a frustrating end win midweek, Bilbao will be bracing themselves for a heavyweight challenge when they return to San Mames on Saturday night.
With all eyes falling on the Basque Country this weekend, we have taken a look at some of the most attractive Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona Bet Builder Tips.
Barca desperate to widen their advantage
With Real Madrid enduring a public struggle in the Spanish capital, Barcelona are sat firmly in the driving seat to successfully defend their La Liga crown in 2026.
Storming their way to a thumping 3-0 Copa del Rey second-leg victory at home against Atletico Madrid earlier in the week, Saturday’s guests have won all of their last three consecutive domestic showdowns by an aggregate score of 10-1.
Likewise, winning five of their previous six La Liga appearances, Barcelona will be looking to make another title statement when they travel to San Mames this weekend.
Pencilled in as a standout contender in the Basque Country, Flick’s side will certainly be excited by a dominant record against Saturday’s hosts.
Claiming a stunning 5-0 Super Cup romp when they met Athletic Bilbao over in the Middle East on January 7th, Barca have won all of their last five straight battles across all formats by an aggregate score of 16-1.
Bet Builder Tip: Barcelona win @ 2/3 with 1xBet
Yamal’s Ballon d’Or charge
While Lamine Yamal might have been left hugely frustrated last season as he missed out on the chance to claim a maiden Ballon d’Or crown, the 18-year-old sensation has only continued to shatter a string of records this time around.
Only further underlining his status as a generational talent, Barcelona’s academy graduate is certainly the ultimate poster boy in Catalonia.
Once again spearheading Flick’s attack this season, the Spanish talisman has registered 22 direct goal contributions in as many La Liga appearances this season (13 goals, nine assists).
Likewise, storming his way to a wonderfuk La Liga hat-trick during Barca’s 4-1 victory at home against Villarreal last weekend, Yamal is widely regarded as a standout Ballon d’Or candidate in 2026.
It should also be highlighted, Yamal has registered four direct goal contributions in as many La Liga battles against Bilbao (two goals, two assists).
Bet Builder Tip: Lamine Yamal over 0.5 shots on target @ 2/5 with BetUS
A monumental challenge for Bilbao
While Athletic Bilbao might have enjoyed their own respective La Liga flurry over the past six weeks, Ernesto Valverde’s side were hit with major Copa del Rey heartbreak in midweek.
Eventually falling to a 2-0 aggregate defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Real Sociedad, the one-time Barcelona boss couldn’t have asked for a tougher challenge when his squad returns to San Mames this weekend.
Signing off their downbeat Champions League adventure on January 28th with an action-packed 3-2 defeat at home against Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon, Saturday’s hosts have failed to find any kind of stability on home soil.
In fact, Bilbao have registered just a pair of wins from any of their last seven straight showdowns in the Basque Country across all competitions – a run that stems back to December 6th.
Hit with that 5-0 Super Cup drumming when they last met the reigning Spanish champions back in January, Bilbao have also failed to record a La Liga home victory against Barca since August 2019.
Bet Builder Tip: Mikel Jauregizar to be shown a card @ 5/2 with Dachbet
Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona Bet Builder Tips
- Barcelona win
- Lamine Yamal over 0.5 shots on target
- Mikel Jauregizar to be shown a card
ODDS – 7/1 with Vegas Land
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