Sabasports Match Preview
Spanish Supercopa: Athletic Club vs Barcelona
Kickoff Time: 2025-01-09 03:00 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/Albert Gea
Athletic Club’s last match in the Copa del Rey was a hard-fought battle against the lower-tier team Logrones, lasting 120 minutes, and they ultimately triumphed in a penalty shootout with a score of 4-3, narrowly avoiding a major upset. This season, Athletic Club has been in excellent form, remaining unbeaten in their last 15 matches across all competitions. Currently, they sit fourth in La Liga with a record of 10 wins, six draws, and three losses. Athletic Club employs a 4-2-3-1 formation, and under Ernesto Valverde’s management, the team’s defense has remained as resilient as ever, averaging only 9.2 shots faced per league match, which is fewer than both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. Under Valverde’s guidance, Athletic Club has not only enhanced their flanks but also exhibited strong control in the midfield and central areas. Notably, Athletic Club’s top scorer, Inaki Williams, has already netted eight goals and provided five assists across all competitions, making him a crucial player for the team’s attacking prowess.
Barcelona, in the last Copa del Rey match, won 4-0 away against the lower-tier team Barbastro, finally putting an end to their two-match losing streak. As time has passed and with injuries affecting the squad, several key players have been sidelined, leading to fluctuations in the team’s performance. Currently, Barcelona stands third in La Liga with a record of 12 wins, two draws, and five losses, trailing league leaders Real Madrid by five points, which has turned the tides on their title challenge. It’s worth mentioning that Barcelona, under Hans-Dieter Flick, has the strongest attacking force in Europe’s top five leagues, having scored an impressive 51 goals in the first half of the La Liga season. A total of 13 players have found the back of the net, with Robert Lewandowski leading the charge with 25 goals across all competitions. The tactical style of the current Barcelona team focuses on high pressing, quick counterattacks, and breakthroughs down the flanks.
There is no doubt that Barcelona’s overall strength is significantly superior to that of Athletic Club. Although Athletic Club has remained unbeaten in recent matches, they have recorded only four draws and six losses in their last 10 encounters against Barcelona, placing them at a clear disadvantage in their head-to-head history. Considering Barcelona’s recent impressive victory and the subsequent boost in their morale and form, it would be reasonable to predict that Barcelona could carry this momentum forward and secure another victory.
Athletic Club’s Last 5 Games: DWDWW
25-01-05 Logrones 0-0 Athletic Club (PEN 3-4)
24-12-26 Osasuna 1-2 Athletic Club
24-12-22 Deportivo Alaves 1-1 Athletic Club
24-12-14 Fenerbahce 0-2 Athletic Club
24-12-08 Athletic Club 2-0 Villarreal
Barcelona’s Last 5 Games: WLLWD
25-01-05 Barbastro 0-4 Barcelona
24-12-22 Barcelona 1-2 Atletico Madrid
24-12-16 Barcelona 0-1 Leganes
24-12-12 Borussia Dortmund 2-3 Barcelona
24-12-07 Real Betis 2-2 Barcelona
Head To Head Record:
24-08-25 Barcelona 2-1 Athletic Club
24-03-04 Athletic Club 0-0 Barcelona
24-01-25 Athletic Club 2-2 Barcelona (AET 4-2)
23-10-23 Barcelona 1-0 Athletic Club
23-03-13 Athletic Club 0-1 Barcelona
Prediction: Barcelona to win