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Kick off: Sunday, 3 January @17:15 GMT
Venue: San Mamés (Bilbao)
Head to head record
Athletic Bilbao vs Las Palmas 3-1 (2001/2002 La Liga)
Las Palmas vs Athletic Bilbao 1-1 (2001/2002 La Liga)
Las Palmas vs Athletic Bilbao 0-0 (2000/2001 La Liga)
Athletic Bilbao vs Las Palmas 0-3 (2000/2001 La Liga)
Athletic Bilbao vs Las Palmas prediction
Almost fourteen years after their last clash, Athletic Bilbao and Las Palmas are facing each other at San Mames once again. Los Leones need a win to keep up the pace with the Primera top flight teams, while Los Amarillos want to end their winless run on away games.
It’s hard to fight the Lions
It is a well-known fact that San Mames is a tough place to visit, this season just Barca and Real Madrid managed to grab all three points in Bilbao, and these are the only two defeats that los Leones suffered in fifteen home matches in all competitions. In La Liga, Ernesto Valverde’s men capitulated only six times at San Mames, just two times in previous five games. If we add the fact that Bilbao is rather efficient when playing at San Mames, it seems that anything but a home triumph would be a sensation in this match. The leaders of this team, Aritz Aduriz, Inaki Williams and Raul Garcia, who scored almost twenty La Liga goals altogether, should not have a difficult task in this encounter, bearing in mind that Las Palmas’ defense capitulated 18 times away this season.
The Basques will be without the likes of Ibai and Susaeta, who are in the recovery room, as well as Iturraspe. Laporte and Benat are supposed to serve their suspensions in this match.
Watch the Match via bet365 Live Stream
Still looking for an away win
The Yellows are in a dreadful away form this season. Quique Setien’s side is still searching for an away win after nine games in all competitions, and, judging by their current form it does not seem that the tenth time will be a charm. Los Amarillos are siting two places above the relegation zone and I believe that Setien would be immensely happy if his team stayed there in the end of the season.When we talk about their away performance, the only thing that worries me more than their drafty defensive line is their impotent attack that scores less than a goal per game on average. A point in this encounter would be as big as a house for the Cannary Islands-based team, but even that seems as a mission impossible if their top goalscorer Viera (4) does not return to scoring ways.
Las Palmas’ injury list is quite long at the moment. Pedro Bigas, Angel Lopez, Javi Castellano and Alcaraz are all out due to injury problems, while Roque Mesa is suspended for this match.
Quick Facts
- Athletic Bilbao are on an eight-game unbeaten run on home turf
- Los Leones kept a clean sheet in their two last home matches
- Valverde’s side scored 12 goals in last five home fixtures
- Las Palmas conceded 18 goals on the road this season
- Seven goals were scored in last two meetings between the two sides at San Mames
Athletic Bilbao vs Las Palmas betting tip
I think it is quite obvious that the home side is an absolute favorite in this clash. The main question is what the end result would be. I am positive that los Leones will hammer Las Palamas, and it is quite possible we will witnes a lot of fireworks in this game.
Tip: Athletic Bilbao/Athletic Bilbao
Odds: 2.06 (35/33) @888sport
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