November 22, 2025. This date is already circled in red on the calendars of fans across Spain. Everyone is looking forward to not just a football match, but the next round of an epic rivalry that has lasted for almost a century! The Catalan superclub, led by legendary coach Hansi Flick, welcomes the bold and unyielding Athletic Bilbao to its home turf.
| Date and Time | Saturday, November 22, 2025, 5:15 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Venue | Luis Companys Olympic Stadium, Barcelona |
| Status | Round 13 of the 2025/2026 Spanish La Liga |
These are competitions where different group styles meet – attacking, star-studded pressure against steel Basque discipline.
Statistics of previous matches. Head to head
History shows the overwhelming superiority of the Catalan team. In recent years, Barcelona has been significantly stronger head to head: of the last 63 meetings, they have won 41, while Athletic has won only 9 times. The total goal difference is 127:54 in favor of the hosts.
Comparison of the teams’ recent matches (last 5 games in LaLiga 2025/2026):
| Date | Barcelona | Score | Opponent | Athletic Bilbao | Score | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03.11.25 | Victory | 4:1 | Osasuna | Defeat | 1:2 | Villarreal |
| 27.10.25 | Defeat | 1:2 | Real Madrid | Draw | 0:0 | Espanyol |
| 20.10.25 | Victory | 3:0 | Rayo Vallecano | Win | 2:0 | Cádiz |
| 06.10.25 | Victory | 2:0 | Atlético | Loss | 0:1 | Real S. |
| 29.09.25 | Victory | 3:1 | Sevilla | Victory | 3:2 | Mallorca |
According to the prediction, Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will set up his team in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Experienced goalkeeper W. Szczesny will be in goal. The defense is expected to feature a quartet of I. Koundé, R. Araujo, E. Garcia, and A. Balde. Midfielders M. Casado and F. de Jong will play in the center of the field. The trio of attacking midfielders – L. Yamal, F. Lopez, and M. Rashford – will support the lone striker, F. Torres.
Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde also prefers a 4-2-3-1 formation. According to the prediction, U. Simon will defend the goal. The defensive line will consist of A. Paredes, D. Vivian, A. Boyero, and J. Areso. R. Navarro and R. Vesga will play in midfield. The attacking lineups will feature R. Rego Mora, M. Jauregizar, and A. Berenguer, who will supply balls to center forward U. Gomez.
La Liga 25/26 standings
The teams’ positions in the standings show what they will be fighting for on November 22. Barcelona is in a tense race for the lead and cannot afford to drop points at home. Athletic, despite being in 11th place, still has a chance to qualify for the European Cup zone.
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF:GA | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid | 11 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 26:10 | 30 |
| 2 | Barcelona | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 28:13 | 25 |
| 3 | Villarreal | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 22:10 | 23 |
| 4 | Atlético Madrid | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 21:10 | 22 |
| 11 | Athletic Bilbao | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 11:13 | 14 |
For the home team, this match is a matter of maintaining their championship ambitions and proving their strength on their home turf. Meanwhile, for the visitors, it is a chance to make a name for themselves and close the gap on the teams at the top of the table.
Predictions and betting odds
Bookmakers have already made their prediction and published the odds. They see the hosts as clear, but not unconditional, favorites. The reason: the visitors’ high motivation and their strong defense, which concedes at the level of the leaders (only 13 goals).
| Type of the bet | Odds (P1) | on Barcelona | Odds for a draw (X) | Odds for Athletic Bilbao (P2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main outcome | ≈ 1.90 | ≈ 3.75 | ≈ 4.22 | |
| Total goals (TB/TM) | TB 2.5: 1.68 | TM 2.5: 2.15 | – |
Types of betting and tips on how to do them:
- Outcome bet (1X2). You choose who will be the winner (P1 or P2) or whether there will be a draw (X). If you think fc Barcelona will win, you bet on P1 with odds of 1.90. If your €1,000 bet wins, you will receive €1,900.
- Total bet (TB/TM). You do betting on the total number of goals in the match. For example, if you think there will be no more than two goals in the game (e.g., 1:0 or 1:1), you bet on Total Under (TM) 2.5 with odds of 2.15.
- Handicap bet (H). Used to “even out” the odds. For example, H2 (+1) on Athletic Bilbao means that even if the Basques lose by one goal (e.g., 2:1), your bet will still win.
Prediction: analysts expect a tough fight. The most likely outcome looks to be a home win by a narrow margin or a high-scoring draw.