FC Barcelona entered the 2023-24 La Liga season aiming to retain the Spanish Crown for the first time since 2018-19. After a solid start to the campaign, the team lost steam after a string of poor performances coupled with long-term injuries to crucial players and poor managerial tactics.
However, the Blaugranes stormed back into contention with encouraging displays in February and March after Xavi’s announcement to leave the Barcelona dugout at the end of the season but the uncharacteristic results early on left them behind in the chasing pack.
With more than 2/3rd of the season gone by, FC Barcelona despite their winning run of late have been left with a lot of work to do and even 27 points from their remaining 9 matchdays might not be enough to crown them Champions of Spain come May.
The Catalan’s promising run to keep their title hopes alive has seen them emerge victorious in 4 out of their last 5 La Liga games. Their only disappointment came in the form of a 0-0 stalemate at the San Mames and Xavi would be hoping for a similar result from the Basque side come this Sunday as they square up against Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid.
Los Blancos presently holds an 8-point lead over second-placed Barcelona. Apart from the Clasico on the 21st of April, the Merengues have an easier run in over the final 9 games which makes the clash with Bilbao assume greater significance.
Athletic Club come into this tie on a thick vein of form having attained 7 wins in their last 11 games in all competitions. The Basque side was on the wrong end of the scoreline on a solitary occasion only and their run included 3 cup wins to go alongside a league victory over high-flying Girona.
A point ahead of Atletico Madrid in 4th place, as highlighted by SPORT, a positive result at the Bernabeu would do a world of good for Bilbao’s Champions League endeavors and would also give Barcelona a glimmer of hope.
Furthermore, Ernesto Valverde has prior experience of emerging victorious at the Bernabeu from his previous stint at Barcelona (3 wins and 1 loss with two wins out of two in La Liga).
However, his record at the Spanish capital with Athletic Club leaves a bit to be desired with the Basque side emerging victorious in only one of his seven games incharge at the Bernabeu (1 draw).
Athletic Bilbao under Valverde have played fearless football in big games even when they had their backs against the wall. Barcelona’s title hopes currently lie on the edge with them having to cut an 8-point deficit with only 9 matchdays to go.
Ernesto Valverde delivered a La Liga title in each of his two seasons incharge of the Catalan club and can do his former side a world of good by taking home a positive result from the Santiago Bernabeu.
