Espanyol – Ath Bilbao Prediction & Picks (25.01.2020)

Athletic-Bilbao-vs-Espanyol

Espanyol – Ath Bilbao SOCCER PICKS

Espanyol and Athletic Club meet at RCDE Stadium, in a match for the 21st round of the First Division. Athletic Club won at home by (3‑0) the last time they met in this edition of the league, on 30-10-2019. The history of direct confrontations played in this stadium is favorable to the home team, which in the last 6 games won 3, drew 2 and lost 1. Indeed, the last time these two teams played a game in this stadium, in 05 -11-2018, for the First Division, Espanyol won by (1‑0). Borja Iglesias (41 ‘) scored the only goal of the match. Particular attention is needed for the home / away condition, since both teams have significantly different results at home and abroad.

Espanyol:

After 3 wins, 5 draws and 12 losses, the home team is currently in 20th place, with 14 points won. In their last game, they won Villarreal away by (1-2), after in the previous match they had drawn by (2-2) at home, in a match against Barcelona. This is a team that curiously has been stronger as a visitor than in their home games, since in the last 30 matches they have recorded 7 wins, 2 draws and 6 losses as a visitor; against 3 wins, 4 draws and 8 losses in his stadium. In the last match he played, for the Copa del Rey, he lost with Real Sociedad outside (2‑0). In his last 10 home games for the championship Espanyol drew 3 and lost 7, so he won 3 points in 30 possible.

For this competition, he did not win any of the last 10 games in his stadium. In their home league games the most frequent final result at the break was 0-1 (4 in 10 games). The team has not been very strong defensively, since they have always suffered goals in the last 10 games, but their attack has scored regularly, since they scored goals in 7 of the last 10 games for this competition. In their home matches there is a tendency for goals, since 9 of their last 10 matches for this competition have ended with Over 1.5 goals. In 20 games in the competition, he suffered the first goal 12 times and only got 1 comeback.

Espanyol comes to this match with a 2-0 defeat on the trip to Real Sociedad, in a game for the Spanish King’s Cup. In the last match for the Spanish league, the home team beat Villarreal 1-2. Despite playing indoors, the local club must act with a defensive strategy, seeking only the counterattack to exploit the opponent’s back. Striker Raúl de Tomás, the great star of this Catalan club, has scored 2 goals in 2 games. For this game the visiting team cannot count on Javi López, suspended, as well as with Campuzano and Corchia, these with physical problems.

Athletic Club :

After 7 wins, 9 draws and 4 losses, the away team is currently in 8th position, with 30 points won. In their last game, they tied with Celta de Vigo at home for (1‑1), after in the previous game they had drawn away, in a match against Sevilla, for (1‑1). This is a stronger team with the support of his fans, since in the last 30 games he has 4 wins, 8 draws and 3 losses as a visitor; against 10 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss in his stadium. In the last game he played for the Copa del Rey, he won Elche out by (4-5) in the tiebreaker on penalties. In its last 10 away matches for the championship, the Athletic Club records 1 victory, 6 draws and 3 losses, so it won 9 points in 30 possible. In their home league games the most frequent final result at the break was 0-0 (5 in 10 games). His attack has scored regularly, as he scored goals in 7 of the last 10 games for this competition. In their home matches there is a tendency for few goals, since 8 of their last 10 matches for this competition have ended with Under 2,5 goals. In 20 games in this competition, he only got 1 comeback in the 6 games in which he suffered the first goal.

Athletic Bilbao arrives motivated to this match, after beating Elche, on penalties, moving towards the next phase of the Copa del Rey. In the last match for the Spanish championship, the visitors tied a ball against Celta de Vigo. As expected, coach Gaizka Garitano should favor a style of possession of the ball and look for spaces along the flanks. Raúl García stands out in Athletic Bilbao, with 6 goals and 1 assist. For this game the visiting team cannot count on Unai López, suspended, as well as Aduriz and Óscar de Marcos, these with physical problems.


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