Having lost their last match, the Red and Whites return to the pitch looking to bounce back on Saturday afternoon as Athletic Bilbao welcome Espanyol at home in La Liga.
The Basque club fell 2-1 to Girona in their last match, dropping them to sixth in the La Liga standings. Espanyol sit 14th in the table, having accumulated 10 points from their first nine games.
Match Preview
Under the helm of Ernesto Valverde, Athletic Bilbao have picked up four wins, two draws, and three losses from their nine league matches this season. They now sit sixth with 14 points, which is just three behind Villarreal in fourth. Athletic were unbeaten in six coming into the international break, for which Girona ended that run in very dramatic style as Cristhian Stuani’s 99th-minute penalty sealed a 2-1 win after Oihan Sancet had equalized for the Lions.
At home, Athletic have picked up eight points from five games, and they welcome an Espanyol side that has picked up just one point in four away matches this campaign. Athletic have won two of their last three league meetings with Espanyol, but their most recent meeting at San Mames ended in a 1-0 win for Espanyol in September 2022.
Espanyol, who won promotion back to La Liga following their victory in the 2023-24 Segunda Division playoffs, look to consolidate their position in the top flight. They come into this tie having won three, drawn one, and lost five, accumulating 10 points, which is four clear of the relegation zone. Despite losing three on the trot at Real Madrid, Villarreal and Real Betis, they managed to pip Mallorca 2-1 just before the international break through Marash Kumbulla and Jofre Carreras.
Form Guide
Athletic Bilbao La Liga form: LWWWDL
Athletic Bilbao (all competitions): WWDDWL
Espanyol La Liga form: WWLLLW
Team News
Athletico Bilbao will make a late call over the fitness of Nico Williams due to a muscle problem that may see him miss the start this weekend, Sancet is also a doubt with a thigh problem, as Alex Padilla, Yeray Alvarez, and Unai Simon. Aitor Paredes will also be absent due to suspension after being sent off in the defeat to Girona. However, Mikel Vesga could return, and the hitherto suspended Julen Agirrezabala will be restored between the posts.
Espanyol will be without Edu Exposito, who is out for a long spell with a knee injury, while Leandro Cabrera is also likely to be absent due to a foot issue. But the club remains optimistic that top scorer Javi Puado, with three league strikes this season, will pass a late fitness test and is available for selection.
Predicted Lineups:
Athletic Bilbao: Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Vivian, Lekue, Boiro; U. Gomez, Ruiz de Galarreta, Herrera; I. Williams, Guruzeta, Berenguer
Espanyol: Garcia; El Hilali, Gomez, Kumbulla, Romero; Gragera, Lozano; Carreras, Kral, Cardona; Veliz
