Ath Bilbao vs Espanyol Prediction & Betting Tips (19 October)

Like every season, Athletic Bilbao is clearly a team that is aiming for European jumps or even the Champions League , i.e. the top 4. 6th at the start of this day, Athletic Club disappoints somewhat with two days of La Liga without success including a defeat before the break on the Girona pitch in a pretty crazy scenario since the Basques missed two penalties in the 2-1 game. Before that, the Williams brothers' partners were embarrassed by Sevilla FC at home 1-1 . Furthermore, in these two games, Bilbao never finished eleven against eleven with two expulsions.

We will recall that the pace is high since the Europa League has started and for the moment, the residents of San Mamés are undefeated with a sharing of points on the pitch of AS Roma during the 1st day 1-1 and a success in 2nd place against the Dutch of Alkmaar 2-0. Opposite, we find the Catalans of Llobregat, promoted this season who have not been riding a positive wave in recent weeks with three losses in three matches against Real Madrid without possible dispute 4-1, against Villarreal at home 1-2 and on the smallest score to Benito Villamarin of Real Bétis 1-0. Fortunately, this series ended just before the break for the reception of the excellent team of Mallorca who seem to have physically suffered a 2-1 victory. In the ranking, the Pericos occupied the 14th spot at the start of this day. 

The central defender Paredes will stay at home (suspended following his exclusion against Girona) while the "starting" goalkeeper in the absence of the real holder Unai Simon (injured, return December) will return from the suspension which served him in this same match against the Catalans. On the other hand, yet another alert for Sancet (4 goals in La Liga) who left prematurely due to injury against Girona and thus joins an infirmary already made up of the goalkeeper (Simon), the starting center Alvarez, and the crack Nico Williams . His big brother, Inaki Williams (1 goal, 4 assists in the league this season) seems well on his way to playing a 10th successive match this season in the league while Berenguer (2 cakes) enforces his role as supersub wonderfully. Up front, Guruzeta (2 pawns, 2 pancakes) should be started. Suffering from a ruptured cruciate ligament contracted last season, Exposito is still in rehabilitation and will be missing for this trip to the Basque Country like de Cabrera and the important Javi Puado (3 goals this season in the league), both injured.

Against Mallorca, it was Jofre (2 goals, 2 assists this season in La Liga), and the Albanian international Kumbulla (on loan from Roma) who won the game by each scoring their own little goal. Loaned by Augsburg, the Habs Irvin Cardona (10 goals, 3 goals in Ligue 2 with Sainté last year) has still not found the string in Spain after 8 appearances. On loan from Tottenham, Alejo Veliz (1 goal in La Liga) will clearly be one to watch this season.