Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao push to rise in LaLiga standings
The Catalan and Basque clubs head into another round with the aim of climbing the table and solidifying their positions in the standings. FC Barcelona hosts Athletic Club de Bilbao on Sunday, on matchday ten of the EA Sports La Liga 2023-24 season. Under Xavi Hernandez, Barcelona seek a victory to narrow the gap with Real Madrid, who drew with Sevilla in their most recent outing. Athletic, led by Ernesto Valverde, are chasing three points to edge closer to the Champions League spots.
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Key data to consider:
- Barcelona have not tasted defeat in seven consecutive La Liga meetings with Athletic Bilbao (W6 D1). Since Xavi took charge, the Catalans have won all three clashes without conceding a goal.
- On home soil, Barcelona have collected 55 of 57 possible points against Athletic in La Liga (W18 D1) after a tougher spell where they picked up only two from the previous nine home games against Bilbao (D2 L1).
- Barcelona have scored more than 350 goals against Athletic in La Liga history (351). They have failed to find the net against Bilbao in just three of their last 51 league encounters.
- Currently, Barcelona have not lost any of their nine La Liga ties in the 2023/24 season (W6 D3), though they have drawn two of their last three matches (W1), following five straight wins prior.
- Athletic finished the first nine rounds of 2023/24 with 17 points (W5 D2 L2), matching the top mark in this phase for the 21st century when repeated in 2022/23.
- Athletic has been the side creating the most chances in the attacking third in La Liga this season and could become the first to reach triple digits in this category for the current campaign (standing at 96).
- Barcelona ranks among the five major European leagues as the team with the most goals in the final fifteen minutes of games this season (nine), and also leads in points secured from those late goals (eight).
- Jude Bellingham and Antoine Griezmann have scored the most late winners in La Liga this term, with Gorka Guruzeta close behind in third place for Bilbao.
- Since Jules Koundé joined Barcelona in August 2022, the Blaugrana have claimed a 77.8% win rate in league matches when he starts (36 games: 28 wins, 4 draws, 4 losses). Without him in the starting XI, the record drops to 55.6% (9 wins, 5 draws, 2 losses).
- Valverde has struggled against Barcelona in La Liga, recording a 10% win rate from meetings with his former club (L20 W2 D7 L11) in this competition, his lowest figure against any opponent he has faced multiple times.
Match outlook for Barcelona vs. Athletic de La Liga EA Sports 2023-24: videos, goals and debates
Lineups for FC Barcelona
To confirm.
Athletic XI
To confirm.
Minute-by-minute: Barcelona vs. Athletic in La Liga EA Sports 2023-24
Source: Goal