Sunday, Barça face Celta Vigo for a match of the 21st day of La Liga. Barcelona defends their place on the podium while Bilbao must take points in order to distance the first relegates.
Far from being the steamroller of the early 2010s, FC Barcelona should not be able to recover the title of Spanish champion this season. Much too crumbly, the Catalans are indeed the only 3rd in the Spanish championship with 10 points behind the leader, Atlético, who has one game less. Again in the grip of doubts following his lost final in the Spanish Supercup against Bilbao (2-3), the Blaugranas had all the trouble in the world to overcome Cornella in the Copa del Rey (0-2 AP). Last Sunday, they went to seek a precious success in Elche which allows them to stay on the podium (0-2) and, on Wednesday evening, they qualified for the quarter-finals of the King’s Cup at the expense of Rayo Vallecano ( 1-2).
For its part, Bilbao has therefore managed the big blow of this month of January by eliminating one after the other Real Madrid (3-1) then Barça (0-2 AP) to win the Spanish SuperCup. However, nothing foreshadowed this outcome for the Basques who are only in the second part of the La Liga table this season. Defeated by Barcelona (2-3) in their last match before this competition, Athletic made short work of Getafe on Monday night (5-1) and then won Thursday night against Alcoyano in the Coupe du King.
Blaugrana side, the defender Pique, the prodigy Ansu Fati and the potential holders Sergi Roberto and Coutinho are still not operational. Guilty of a bad gesture in the final of the Supercopa de Espana, Messi has served his suspension and will therefore be back. He should undoubtedly be associated with Griezmann and Dembélé for this poster.
On the side of Bilbao, the substitute Nolaskoain (0 games this season) should be the only player forfeited for this meeting. On Monday night, against Getafe, the ageing Raul Garcia scored a brace and brought his total of goals scored to 3 this season.
The match will be played behind closed doors.
Coaches have the possibility of making 5 substitutions during the game.
Barça won in the first leg (2-3) before Bilbao took their revenge in the final of the Spanish Super Cup (0-2 AP).
FC Barcelona is a long way from mastering their subject this season and, against a Bilbao team which has given them problems in their two clashes this season, they could lose more points on Sunday night. Draw or win Bilbao!
Betting Tips: Bilbao does not lose or loses by exactly 1 goal
Odds: 1.63
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