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2025-01-08 - Ath Bilbao vs Barcelona
A Sports Betting Pick by Gladiator
Football: Super Cup - Semi-Finals
King Abdullah Sports City (Jeddah), Saudi Arabia
Wednesday, 8th January 2025 - Kick Off 20:00 CET
Ath Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao comes into this semi-final riding a remarkable wave of momentum, having gone 15 competitive matches without defeat. Their resilience was evident in their narrow penalty shootout win against Logrones in the Copa del Rey last weekend.
Bilbao's ability to deliver in high-stakes matches has been a hallmark, particularly in this tournament, where they’ve reached the final in their last six appearances, securing three titles.
This fixture is familiar territory for Bilbao, as they’ve shown their knack for unsettling Barcelona in cup competitions, winning four of their last five encounters outside of La Liga.
The Basque side's physicality and defensive organisation will be key to stifling Barcelona's attack. Forward Inaki Williams has been a standout in cup clashes against the Catalans, with his pace and finishing a constant threat.
Barcelona
Barcelona enters this match with renewed confidence following a comfortable 4-0 victory over Barbastro in the Copa del Rey. However, their domestic form has been shaky, with consecutive defeats toward the end of 2024 raising questions about their consistency.
This competition offers the Blaugrana an opportunity to regain momentum as they aim to add to their record 14 Super Cup titles.
While the Catalan giants have a strong pedigree in this competition, recent performances have lacked dominance. Midfield maestro Pedri will be pivotal in orchestrating play, particularly given his success in prior Super Cup fixtures and his ability to deliver in clutch moments. With Barcelona’s attack slow to start in recent matches, patience and precision will be essential.
The Betting Verdict
This match pits Ath Bilbao’s defensive discipline and counterattacking prowess against Barcelona’s technical flair and attacking creativity. Given Bilbao's strong recent record in cup competitions against Barcelona and the Catalans' tendency to start cautiously, a balanced first half is likely.
I expect a tightly contested opening half, with both teams cautiously probing for opportunities without overcommitting defensively.
The Pick :
Ath Bilbao 1-1 Barcelona
