Wednesday 002 Spanish Super Cup: Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona
Athletic Bilbao has been in excellent form recently in La Liga, with a record of 10 wins, 6 draws, and 3 losses, accumulating 36 points to rank fourth in the league table, just 2 points behind third-placed Barcelona. Notably, Athletic Bilbao has remained unbeaten in their last 15 matches, winning 11 of them, including 7 out of their last 9, demonstrating their strong competitive state and team cohesion. In their previous Spanish Super Cup match, Athletic Bilbao drew 0-0 away against Logrones, forming a stark contrast with Barcelona's 4-0 home victory. However, Athletic Bilbao managed to maintain their undefeated record. Returning to play at home for this match, they will undoubtedly have a strong desire to secure a promotion spot from Barcelona, as they now have the capability to compete with Barcelona.
On the other hand, Barcelona, although still occupying a top position in the league table, has shown some inconsistency in their performance. In their last 10 matches, Barcelona has achieved 4 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses, accumulating 38 points to rank third. Particularly in their recent four matches, Barcelona suffered two defeats, including losses at home to Leganes and Atletico Madrid before Christmas, reflecting that there is still room for improvement in their state adjustment. Fortunately, in their last Spanish Super Cup match, Barcelona secured a 4-0 home victory over Barbastre, ending their two-match losing streak and returning to form, with players' confidence also recovering somewhat.
Looking at the records of their last 10 encounters in recent years, Athletic Bilbao has only managed 4 draws and 6 losses against Barcelona, including a 1-2 defeat away in the first leg of this season, indicating that they may be at a significant psychological disadvantage. After the initial honeymoon period with new coach Flick at the start of the season, Barcelona has been dropping points and has been overtaken in the league table by Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. Additionally, off the field, the registration controversy involving Olmo has been causing a stir. Following a brief break during the winter recess, Barcelona urgently needs a victory to stabilize morale. The data gives Barcelona a handicap of 0.5 goals, which seems reasonable when considering the fundamentals. Therefore, it is expected that Barcelona will successfully win the match.
Prediction: Loss
Details: 0-2/1-2/1-3
Number of Goals: 3/4
First Half/Full Time: Draw/Loss or Loss/Loss
Wednesday 003 English League Cup: Tottenham vs Liverpool
Tottenham's performance in the league this season has been quite average. Although their squad strength ranks among the top in the league, due to widespread injuries and poor performances from key players, their league performance has been disappointing. After 20 rounds, they have only managed 7 wins, 3 draws, and 10 losses, ranking 12th, which clearly does not match their capabilities. There are no signs of improvement in their recent form, as they have failed to win in their last 4 matches, recording 1 draw and 3 losses. Their injury situation is far from optimistic, with key players missing along the spine of the team.
Under the leadership of Sloot this season, Liverpool has delivered phenomenal performances, securing 14 wins, 4 draws, and 1 loss in their first 19 matches to lead the Premier League. With one less match played, they have a 6-point advantage over second-placed Arsenal, putting them in a leading position in the title race. In their last match at home against Manchester United, their defense made repeated mistakes. After this match, Liverpool has remained unbeaten in their last 10 matches with 7 wins and 3 draws. For this match, Liverpool will make extensive rotations due to continuous fixtures, which will have a considerable impact on their physical condition. Currently, apart from the absence of starting attacking midfielder Soboslo due to injury, the rest of the starting players are available.
Tottenham and Liverpool faced each other in the league half a month ago, with Tottenham suffering a heavy defeat. At that time, Tottenham was not as poor as they are now, being bullied by everyone. The initial opening odds were the same at 0.75, but Liverpool would not have been an absolute favorite then. Meeting again today, the situation has changed significantly. Tottenham has been unable to win consecutively, while Liverpool has achieved several victories, only drawing with Manchester United in the last round. Compared to other title contenders, Liverpool's squad is slightly thinner. If the odds do not increase to raise the threshold later, there is a high chance of an upset, as even a small victory could win half the investment with absolute confidence. Therefore, Liverpool may not necessarily fare well in this match.
Prediction: Let Win + Let Draw
Details: 3-3/2-2/2-3
Number of Goals: 4/5