The penultimate round of the La Liga season presents an interesting battle between Athletic Bilbao and Elche. The match takes place on Sunday at San Mames Barria.
Ranked as number 8 in the La Liga standings, Athletic Bilbao, have so far collected 50 points this season, while Elche collected 21 points. This puts them up as number 20 after 36 rounds.
Since Athletic Bilbao can improve on their position to be placed inside the top 6 by downing Elche on Sunday, we might have an exciting game ahead of us.
Athletic Bilbao are not a high scoring team these days, as they only found the back of the net ten times in the last ten outings. That is an average of just one goals per game, as they conceded 13 goals. They managed two clean sheets in these matches.
Elche average 0.9 goals a game in their last ten outing, scoring a total of nine goals. They conceded an average of 1.5 per game, for a total of 15 goals, whilst keeping their opponents from scoring two times.
Athletic Bilbao no doubt look forward to their next match, as they ran out 2-1 and 4-1 winners when last playing Elche.
Athletic Bilbao vs Elche Prediction
Athletic Bilbao Form
Athletic Bilbao are currently performing inconsistently, as they lost against Villarreal by a 5-1 score, before winning 2-1 against Celta Vigo. They lost again in their most recent match, this time 2-0 against Osasuna. In their last six La Liga home matches, Athletic Bilbao have two wins, while they've drawn one and lost three. They scored four and conceded four goals.
Elche Form
Elche currently look solid after going three matches unbeaten. They laid the groundworks by beating Atletico Madrid with a 1-0 scoreline, before settling for a point in a 1-1 draw against Getafe. Their latest match once again had them share the points, this time in a 1-1 draw against Sevilla. Elche came through their last six away games in the La Liga without a single win. Of those six matches, they drew one and lost five in which, they were outscored by ten goals to three.
They went into the season as candidates for the drop, and unfortunately for Elche, they have lived up to expectations. As the season draws to a close, they are still in with a chance of escaping relegation, though.
Both Athletic Bilbao and visitors Elche seem to struggle just a wee bit much right now, with keeping a clean sheet. We go out on a limb here and suggest that, both teams will find the back of the net.
Athletic Bilbao scored 37 goals and conceded 14 in their last 19 games against teams from the bottom half of the La Liga table. They collected 41 points and 12 victories. Elche claimed two wins and eight points from their last 19 encounters with teams in the top half of the La Liga, while scoring 11 goals to 45 against. Athletic Bilbao enjoy a record of 14 wins, eight draws and 14 defeats in the La Liga this season. Elche have four wins, nine draws and 23 defeats in the La Liga.
Athletic Bilbao vs Elche Stats
- In 16 of the last 18 Athletic Bilbao home matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In 12 of the last 14 Athletic Bilbao matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In 6 of the last 7 Athletic Bilbao home matches the sum of goals was under 2.5
- Athletic Bilbao have conceded in 10 of the last 12 matches
- Athletic Bilbao have conceded in 8 of the last 10 home matches
- In 15 of the last 16 Elche away matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- Elche have lost 7 of the last 9 away matches while scoring less than 1.5 goals
- Elche have not won 11 of the last 12 away matches
- In 11 of the last 13 Elche matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- Elche have conceded in 11 of the last 12 away matches
Athletic Bilbao vs Elche Squads
Athletic Bilbao Squad
The 59-year-old Valverde will select the starting eleven against Elche from this squad. The statistics represent goals scored and matches played in the La Liga this season:
Alex Padilla (0/0), Ander Iruarrizaga (0/0), Julen Agirrezabala (0/8), Unai Simon (0/29), Aitor Paredes (0/14), Ander Capa (0/7), Daniel Vivian (1/27), Inigo Lekue (0/20), Inigo Martinez (1/15), Mikel Balenziaga (0/3), Oscar de Marcos (1/35), Yeray Alvarez (1/28), Yuri Berchiche (1/27), Ander Herrera (0/16), Dani Garcia (0/25), Mikel Vesga (3/34), Oier Zarraga (0/24), Oihan Sancet (9/34), Raul Garcia (2/33), Unai Vencedor (0/9), Alex Berenguer (4/35), Gorka Guruzeta (6/28), Iker Muniain (0/28), Inaki Williams (10/34), Jon Morcillo (0/10), Luis Bilbao (0/0), Malcom Ares (0/0), Nico Serrano (0/0), Nico Williams (6/35).
Elche Squad
Below is the full team squad of Elche. The manager Beccacece will pick his starting XI against Athletic Bilbao from these players:
Axel Werner (0/2), Edgar Badia (0/34), Jesus Lopez (0/0), Carlos Clerc (0/31), Diego Gonzalez (0/16), Enzo Roco (0/20), Gonzalo Verdu (1/15), Helibelton Palacios (0/24), Jose Angel Carmona (3/19), Lautaro Blanco (0/15), Lisandro Magallan (0/12), Nicolas Fernandez (0/18), Pedro Bigas (0/27), Pol Lirola (1/12), Alejandro Alfaro (0/0), Alex Collado (1/15), Gerard Gumbau (1/33), John Nwankwo (0/12), Josan (1/24), Omar Mascarell (0/28), Pape Cheikh (0/0), Randy Nteka (0/22), Raul Guti (0/27), Rodrigo Mendoza (0/0), Tete Morente (4/30), Tobias Christensen (0/0), Ezequiel Ponce (4/33), Fidel (3/25), Lucas Boye (5/33), Pere Milla (6/29).
Athletic Bilbao vs Elche Team News
Athletic Bilbao have an almost full squad available against Elche at San Mames Barria with only one player possibly missing.
Sidelined with an injury, Athletic Bilbao can't field Inigo Martinez this coming Sunday against Elche.
Elche are juggling with three absent players on this coming Sunday when travelling to Athletic Bilbao.
Elche need to do without Alex Collado, Josan and John Nwankwo, who are not fit enough to travel to San Mames Barria.
Athletic Bilbao vs Elche Lineups
Athletic Bilbao vs Elche H2H
Their latest encounter in the La Liga was a belter of a game, which finished with a 1-4 scoreline. An uncommon result, but we would not mind a similar goal fest this coming Sunday. Athletic Bilbao enjoyed a field day, when they last squared up to Elche. A 4-1 win left the former in a jubilant mood, with the latter licking their wounds. The bookies have Athletic Bilbao to win this match at best price odds of 1/3.
Athletic Bilbao vs Elche Results
Both teams to score paid out five times in the previous nine matches between home side Athletic Bilbao and Elche. Best priced odds on BTTS with the bookies are at 19/20.
Athletic Bilbao vs Elche Betting Tips
Look no further than Inaki Williams, when searching for a marksman currently in good shape. He hit the target twice lately for Athletic Bilbao in the La Liga, while Fidel Chaves managed two goals in the last half dozen matches for Elche in this tournament. No doubt, both are looking to add to their total once again.
Athletic Bilbao won three of the previous 10 home matches across all tournaments, while drawing two and losing five as well. Elche won one from a possible 10 away from home, as they also drew two and lost seven in this run. Both teams have been poor at keeping their opponents from scoring in their last 10 games, respectively. Athletic Bilbao managed a clean sheet in two of their games at home, Elche kept a clean sheet in one of their last 10.
Over 2.5 goals came out five times in the last nine encounters between these two teams. Athletic Bilbao managed an average of 1.43 goals, with Elche averaging 1.1 goals in these. Both teams to score was a winning bet five times in this run of matches. Over 2.5 goals was a winning bet in four of Athletic Bilbao’s past ten matches across all tournaments. They scored 1.1 goals on average along the way. Over 2.5 goals appeared in four of the last ten matches that Elche played across all tournaments. They scored 0.9 times on average in the process.
