Athletic Bilbao vs Espanyol

Estadio San Mames forms the backdrop for Athletic Bilbao’s must-win La Liga match against Espanyol.

Athletic Bilbao’s inspiring six-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W4, D2) ended abruptly right before the international break as Girona’s 2-1 win condemned them to their third La Liga defeat this season (W4, D2). However, Ernesto Valverde’s men remain among European qualification spots, albeit only by courtesy of a superior goal difference to 7th-placed Mallorca. Despite only losing once in five home league outings this term, Bilbao’s form at San Mames is far from perfect (W2, D2, L1), largely thanks to their misfiring frontline. ‘Los Leones’ netted under 1.5 goals in four of those five matches, which has been the case in their last two competitive home encounters against Espanyol, both of which yielded an identical 1-0 scoreline (W1, L1).

In the meantime, goals on either side of halftime fired Espanyol to a 2-1 home triumph against Mallorca on the brink of the international break, helping them arrest a dismal three-match losing streak in La Liga and steer four points away from the bottom three ahead of this round. However, ‘Los Periquitos’ have yet to find their footing away from home, losing three of their four away league games (D1) while only scoring once. Since that was an own goal in a 4-1 demolition at Real Madrid, it’s fair to say Manolo Gonzalez’s men have yet to score on the road. But they can draw confidence from finding the net at least once in their last five encounters against Bilbao (W1, D2, L2).