Barcelona vs. Athletic Club preview: Prediction, odds, betting tips, and top bets for La Liga clash

Barcelona, under new head coach Hansi Flick, are still adjusting to his tactics and style as they prepare to face Athletic Club in their tough La Liga season opener on Saturday.

The Catalan giants are very much still a team in flux, but Flick has provided some stability, and brought a winning start to the season as Barcelona topped Valencia 2-1 in their opener, with a brace from Robert Lewandowski bracketing halftime.

Lewandowski regressed significantly last season, as the 36-year-old failed to reach 20 league goals for the first time in nearly a decade, but a brace to begin the campaign is a strong sign of a return to prominence. The Polish superstar continues to receive enormous service, as Barcelona led the Spanish top flight in goal scoring chances last season, but misfired at a high rate.

BET NOW:Latest odds for La Liga games and best bets for the Barcelona vs. Athletic Club match on BetMGM

Barca remain without a host of injured players, including Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo, and Gavi, and thus will be tested against Athletic who finished fifth last season amidst a strong campaign.

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Barcelona vs. Athletic Club prediction, oddsMoneyline lean: Draw (+300)Score prediction: Barcelona 1-1 Athletic

Even with Lewandowski scoring twice in the opener, finishing remains a big problem for Barcelona. They created 3.22 xG against Valencia but only Lewandowski's 49th-minute penalty saw them through to three points. Athletic, meanwhile, profile as the opposite, needing very few chances to find the net.

This is a side that has troubled Barcelona often in recent years, winning their Copa del Rey meeting back in late January before playing to a scoreless draw in league play six weeks later. They will know how to keep Barcelona at bay in this match.

 BetMGM
(USA)Barcelona win-160Draw+300Athletic Club win+400Both teams
to scoreY: -140
N: +100Over / Under
2.5 goalsO: -145
U: +105Barcelona
-0.5 goals-175Athletic Club
+0.5 goals+120Barcelona vs. Athletic Club match factsDate: Saturday, August 24, 2024Kickoff Time: 7 p.m. local (1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT)Location: Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium (Barcelona, Spain)Referee: Jesus Gil ManzanoLast meeting: Athletic Club 0-0 Barcelona (Mar. 3, 2024 | La Liga) Barcelona vs. Athletic Club best betPick: Under 2.5 total goalsOdds: +105 (BetMGM)

Barcelona create oodles of chances in front of goal, but struggle to finish them. Meanwhile, Athletic are an extremely organized defensive side and will do their best to limit Barcelona. They don't need much of their own volume to find the net, but will be very happy if this ends scoreless.

Each of the last three league matchups between these two teams have ended either 1-0 or scoreless, so expect more of the same with strong value to go with it.

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Barcelona vs. Athletic Club prop bet

Pick: Raphinha to score or assist a goalOdds: +100 (FanDuel)

While we expect a low-scoring match, we also understand that Barcelona are still a strong attacking side, and if anyone is going to contribute in front of goal for the Blaugrana, it's Raphinha, who is by far the team's most in-form and consistent provider in the attacking third.

Raphinha was unlucky not to have a goal contribution in the opener, taking two shots and creating three chances for teammates. Ilkay Gundogan led La Liga in chances created last season, but with the (recently retired) German international looking to force his way out of the club, they will lean on Raphinha even heavier.

Barcelona vs. Athletic Club live stream, TV channel TV channelStreamingUSAESPN DeportesFubo USA, ESPN+, WatchESPNCanada —TSN+UKPremier Sports 1LaLigaTV

This match will be televised in the United States on ESPN Deportes in Spanish. That channel can be found on Fubo, who are offering a free trial for new users.

An English-language broadcast of the match can be found exclusively on ESPN+.

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In Canada, the match will be streamed exclusively on TSN+, while in the UK it will be broadcast on Premier Sports 1 and streamed on LaLigaTV.