Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao Betting Preview – La Liga 18th March 3.15pm
Barcelona are eight points clear at the top of La Liga heading into the weekend and they will be looking to at least consolidate that. They remain unbeaten for the term still and are just cruising again. They had extra work in midweek because of the Champions League but still, that’s not likely to affect them in this one. Bilbao are down in the bottom half of the table and in patchy form and nothing more.
Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao Betting Tips
Barcelona are going to get their hands on the league title this season most likely. They have collected back to back league wins going into this one and remain unbeaten for the season. They knocked Chelsea out of the Champions League in midweek and get back to their comfortable domestic campaign. At the Nou Camp, so far this season Barcelona have a W11 D2 record where they have averaged nearly three goals per game (2.92), having returned 38 goals in 13 games. They just get so much possession that their defence gets an easy time of it most of the time and they have only shipped six home goals this term. Barcelona to win to nil at bet365 is at 8/11 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 010:02 p.m. on March 14th, 2018). They have taken a clean sheet in 60% of their home games. Lionel Messi has scored in four of Barcelona’s last five home games in the league and he is bet365 first goalscorer favourite at 7/4 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 010:02 p.m. on March 14th, 2018) and has tallied 15 goals at the Nou Camp in the league this term.
Bilbao are down in the bottom half of the table going into the weekend and they just struggle for consistency. They are W2 D2 L2 in their last six played and the two wins in that sequence were at home. They don’t really have any away form going having suffered a loss in each of their last three no the road without scoring. They have only collected three away wins all season in the league. While their defence has been superb at home, out on the road, not so much, having conceded an average of 1.6 goals per game. Over 2.5 goals at bet365 is at 4/9 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 010:02 p.m. on March 14th, 2018). Bilbao have failed to take a clean sheet in any of their last five on the road, shipping at least two goals in each of their last four. They are the lowest scorers of all the current top twelve in La Liga.
Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao Head to Head
Barcelona have big form against Bilbao going as they are on a four-match winning streak at home against them in all competitions, scoring at least three goals in each of those victories. The Catalans are on an eight-match winning streak against Bilbao in the top flight after securing a 2-0 away win against them back in October. Each to their last five league wins over Bilbao have been with a clean sheet.
Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao Betting Odds*
Barcelona 1/6, Draw 13/2, Athletic Bilbao 12/1* (Betting Odds taken at 01:26 a.m. on March 14th, 2018)
Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao Predictions
It is likely going to be another stroll in the park for Barcelona at home. Betis are a low scoring side but aren’t all that bad at the back. So the home side may have to bide their time but there is appeal still on backing Barcelona to win to nil.
