Athletic Club – Espanyol
Our Athletic – Espanyol prediction is: Athletic Bilbao to win – 1.45 odds
- Espanyol have yet to win away from home
- Bilbao have only lost at home to Atletico Madrid
- Bilbao won the last meeting
The San Mamés Barria opens its doors next Saturday for an exciting La Liga clash between Athletic Club and Espanyol. The hosts from Bilbao, led by Ernesto Valverde, are currently in sixth place in the table. With 14 points and a goal difference of +3, they have proven their stability in recent weeks, despite missing out on three points in their last two games. This is further strengthened by the return of key players such as Nico Williams and Yeray Álvarez.
RCD Espanyol, on the other hand, are stuck in the lower third of the table and have lost three of their last four league games. Manolo González’s team are in 14th place with just ten points and are struggling with a negative goal difference of -4. The pressure is mounting because another defeat could further damage their chances of avoiding relegation. However, the Catalans are hoping for a miracle at ‘La Catedral’, where the hosts have only suffered one defeat in their last 23 home games.
For coach Ernesto Valverde, the match against Espanyol is more than just an ordinary league game; it is a personal duel that brings back memories of his time as a player at Espanyol. The hosts have the favoritism, but Espanyol will do everything they can to break Athletic’s streak of undefeated home games. A thrilling clash is guaranteed, and all eyes will be on Saturday’s clash.
Athletic – Espanyol info
- Date & Time: 19.10.2024, 14:00
- Stadium: San Mames, Bilbao
- Competition: La Liga, matchday 10
- Broadcast/Live stream: DAZN
Athletic Form & Record Check
The current form of Athletic Club in La Liga shows a mixed bag of results. After a narrow 1-2 defeat to Girona, in which the team showed fighting qualities despite falling behind early on, weaknesses in defense became apparent. Prior to that, a convincing 2-0 win over AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Europa League was proof of the attacking strength under Ernesto Valverde, who repeatedly scored with fast wing attacks. Against Sevilla, Athletic drew 1-1, with the team criticized for their lack of composure in front of goal, which prevented a possible victory.
Finally a home win again?
One highlight was the dominant 3-1 home win over Celta Vigo, carried by an outstanding performance from the midfield axis, who were able to make an impact in attack. Nevertheless, the weaknesses against superior teams such as Atlético Madrid, to whom Athletic lost narrowly at home 0-1, could not be hidden. The in-form Oihan Sancet, who was ruled out of the Girona clash through injury, will be missed by the team for his finishing precision, especially as other players such as Nico Williams are slowly returning from injury.
Overall, Athletic Club finds itself in a stable position with a solid sixth place in the table and 14 points. However, the need to show more consistency away from home cannot be denied. The upcoming match against Espanyol will be an opportunity to smooth out the fluctuations of the past few games and send a strong message to the competition at the San Mamés Stadium.
Athletic facts & analysis
- Current cup winners in Spain
- 6th place in LaLiga
- Without a win in last two games
Espanyol Form & Record Check
Espanyol have been playing with mixed success, with some games going their way and others not. After an inspiring 2-1 win against Mallorca, in which Jofre Carreras scored and assisted, the Catalans’ engine faltered noticeably. A narrow 1-0 defeat against Real Betis revealed weaknesses in the offense, which were also evident in the 2-1 home defeat against Villarreal, despite fighting moments it was not enough to share the points.
The clear 1:4 defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu against top club Real Madrid was no surprise, but it revealed the defensive problems of Manolo González’ team. Nevertheless, there were bright spots, such as the hard-fought 3-2 home win over Alaves, which once again highlighted the quality, but also the vulnerability of Espanyol in tight games. The season got off to a solid start with a 2-1 home win over Rayo Vallecano, but against Atletico Madrid they only managed a goalless draw, which revealed more about their steadfastness in defense than their creative power in offense.
Consequently, a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Real Sociedad followed, and in the opener against Valladolid, Espanyol suffered a bitter 1-0 away defeat that showed the Catalans the direction of the current season early on. At least off the pitch, the Catalans are attracting attention with initiatives such as their players’ involvement in dog adoption. Periquitos will need a return to form from key players like Jofre Carreras to turn the tide against Athletic Club, who are immensely strong at home.
Espanyol facts & analysis
- three defeats in last four games
- 14th place table
- only three wins in nine competitive matches
In the upcoming La Liga game against Espanyol, Athletic Club are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation. Experienced coach Ernesto Valverde will have to do without the suspended Aitor Paredes, who could be replaced by Unai Núñez in defense. In addition, Oihan Sancet is out with a hamstring injury, weakening the midfield; Mikel Vesga could take his place. There is also a question mark over goalkeeper Unai Simón, who continues to struggle with a wrist injury, meaning Álex Padilla will start in goal. Inaki Williams remains a key player in attack, while his brother Nico Williams could also play an important role in attack.
Espanyol are expected to field a 4-2-3-1 formation again when they face Athletic Club in La Liga on October 19. Joan García will be in the goal, looking to continue his strong run of form. In defense, Óscar Gil, Sergi Gómez, M. Kumbulla and Carlos Romero should form the back line and try to keep the opponent’s offense at bay. In midfield, José Gragera and Pol Lozano could provide stability in the center, while Jofre Carreras, known for his shooting accuracy, together with A. Král and I. Cardona, could provide the creative impulses in offense. A. Véliz is likely to play and try to exploit his goal-scoring ability. Jofre Carreras’ important role as a creative mind will have to stand out, especially since the injured Javi Puado is expected to be absent from this game. This means that I. Cardona will get another chance to prove himself on the wing.
Athletic – Espanyol head to head & statistics
The head-to-head of the last five games shows a slight superiority of Athletic Club with three wins against one of Espanyol and one draw. The last meeting took place in April 2023, when Athletic Club triumphed 2-1 away from home. In recent meetings, it is worth noting that Athletic Club has an impressive streak of five games with under 3.5 total goals against Espanyol. Equally remarkable is Espanyol’s streak of scoring at least once against Athletic Club in their last three meetings.
Head to Head (H2H)
