In the Super Cup semifinal, Athletic Club will be facing Barcelona in Spain. Athletic Club remembers their 2021 Super Cup win over Barcelona and hopes to repeat that success. Meanwhile, Barcelona arrives with a convincing 4-0 win over Barbastro in the Copa del Rey, aiming to move past recent losses. Key to their success is Robert Lewandowski, whose goal-scoring touch remains hot. Athletic Club looks to boost its credentials, while Barcelona aims for its first trophy of 2025, setting the stage for a successful year. The Match will take place on January 9, 2025 at 12:30 AM.
Athletic Club vs Barcelona Odds
The betting odds favour Barcelona at 1.82, signalling confidence in their victory. Athletic Club’s chances for a home win come with longer odds of 4.00, underscoring their role as the underdog. A draw is given at 3.83 odds, while the likelihood of over 2.5 goals is at 1.66. The chances of both teams scoring are set at 1.61, hinting at an open, attacking game.
Athletic Club Bilbao vs FC Barcelona Betting Odds
| Athletic Club vs Barcelona Betting Odds | |
|---|---|
| Bet | Odds |
| Athletic Club Win | 4.00 |
| Draw | 3.83 |
| Barcelona Win | 1.82 |
Athletic Club Team Analysis
Athletic Club Recent Performance
Athletic Club’s recent form isn’t detailed here, but their fifth-place finish in LaLiga last season speaks to their quality. Throughout 2024, they faced tough opponents, including solid games like the one against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League. They constantly show a high level of play.
| Home team | Away team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| AZ Alkmaar | Athletic Club | [Insert result] |
| Athletic Club | UD Logroñés | [Insert result] |
Athletic Club Key Players
Nico Williams is Athletic Club’s standout player, a crucial part of their lineup. Despite interest from big clubs like Barcelona and PSG, Williams remains loyal to Athletic Club, highlighting his importance. His skills shone during the recent European Championship. Athletic Club’s focus on homegrown Basque talent underlines their cultural pride, with Williams exemplifying this model. Other key players will depend on their strategies for this semi-final, focusing on teamwork and resilience.
Athletic Club Suspensions & Injuries
At present, Athletic Club has no injuries or suspensions affecting their team plans. This clean bill of health means they can tackle the game head-on. They might lean towards an aggressive tactic, pressing Barcelona hard and making the most of set-pieces.
Athletic Club Tactics and Formation
Athletic Club is famed for developing local talent and will likely choose a lineup reflecting this ethos. Against Barcelona, a counter-attacking formation seems probable, using Nico Williams’ speed and skill on the wing. Defensively, they’ll aim to be solid, hampering Barcelona’s attack while seeking goals from set pieces. This strategy could recall their 2021 Super Cup win over Barcelona, hoping to reduce Lewandowski’s impact. By balancing offence and defence, Athletic Club aims for fluid transitions to catch Barcelona off guard.
Barcelona Team Analysis
Barcelona Recent Performance
Barcelona’s form is up and down lately, showing a WLLWD pattern. Tough games against Atlético Madrid and Leganes brought losses, pointing out defensive issues. But their b 4-0 win over Barbastro in the Copa del Rey flashed their offensive power once again. Their 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund highlights their fighting spirit, proving they can turn around tough situations.
| Home team | Away team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Barbastro | Barcelona | 0-4 |
| Barcelona | Leganes | 0-1 |
| Borussia Dortmund | Barcelona | 2-3 |
Barcelona Key Players
Robert Lewandowski is a key player with 25 goals in 25 matches, making him the go-to threat. Lamine Yamal also drives their attack. In defence, Ronald Araujo is crucial, especially given Barcelona’s recent vulnerabilities.
Barcelona Suspensions & Injuries
Barcelona faces challenges with their goalkeeper situation as Marc-André ter Stegen is out with a long-term injury, joined by Marc Bernal until mid-May 2025. Andreas Christensen’s Achilles tendon injury adds to their woes, creating defensive headaches. These issues demand tactical adjustments from Coach Hansi Flick. They will likely need to utilise all available players, emphasizing solid defense as a way to mitigate risks.
| Player | Injury/Suspension | Expected Return |
|---|---|---|
| Marc Bernal | Cruciate ligament injury | Mid May 2025 |
| Marc-Andre ter Stegen | Cruciate ligament injury | Out for season |
| Andreas Christensen | Achilles tendon injury | Doubtful |
Barcelona Tactics and Formation
Barcelona will likely adopt a formation that mixes defence and attack, perhaps with a 4-3-3 setup to maintain possession and control. Lewandowski will spearhead the attack, with support from wingers who can stretch the opponent’s defence. In midfield, possessing the ball will be key, ensuring resilience against Athletic Club’s pressing game. They will also focus on maximising set-pieces and quick counter-attacks to deal with the home side’s strategy.
Athletic Club vs Barcelona Head-to-Head Statistics
Matches between Athletic Club and Barcelona are always competitive, with previous games showing Barcelona’s edge. In their August 2024 LaLiga match, Barcelona won 2-1, showing their upper hand. Yet, Athletic Club’s 2021 Super Cup win confirms they can disrupt Barcelona’s flow during big matches.
| Home | Away | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | Athletic Bilbao | 2-1 |
| Athletic Bilbao | Barcelona | 0-0 |
| Athletic Bilbao | Barcelona | 2-2 (ET: 2-0) |
| Barcelona | Athletic Bilbao | 1-0 |
| Athletic Bilbao | Barcelona | 0-1 |
Where to Watch Athletic Bilbao vs FC Barcelona The Super Cup semifinal? (Live Streaming)
There will be no live telecast of the Spanish Super Cup 2025 on any TV channel in India. However, the fans can live stream the matches on the FanCode app and website in India.
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