Athletic Bilbao will be aiming to stretch their unbeaten run in La Liga to 14 matches when they welcome Girona to San Mames for an intriguing contest on Saturday afternoon.
The home side are currently fourth in the La Liga table, four points behind fifth-placed Villarreal, while Girona are seventh, one point behind sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano in the race for Europe.
Match preview
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Athletic are enjoying an excellent campaign in Spain's top flight, boasting a record of 11 wins, eight draws and three defeats from their 22 matches, which has left them in fourth spot in the table on 41 points.
Ernesto Valverde's side are only four points behind third-placed Barcelona and sit four points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal in the race to qualify for next season's Champions League, while they are in the knockout round of the Europa League.
The Lions have only won two of their last five in Spain's top flight, drawing their last two against Leganes and Real Betis, but they are currently on a 13-game unbeaten run in the league dating back to the start of October.
Ironically, Girona were the last team to beat Athletic in La Liga, recording a 2-1 victory on home soil, but the Basque outfit have the third-best home record this term, picking up 22 points from 11 matches.
Athletic also recorded a 3-2 success over Girona in the corresponding match during the 2023-24 campaign, but they have only been victorious in one of their last five top-flight games against the Catalan club.
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Girona ended a four-game losing run by recording a 2-1 win over Las Palmas on Monday night, with the result moving the Catalan side into seventh spot in the table, just one point behind sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano.
Michel's side had a historic 2023-24 campaign, finishing third in the table, but it was always going to be difficult for them to repeat that this term.
Girona are only in their sixth-ever season at this level, though, so a top-six finish would again represent an excellent campaign, and that certainly looks achievable for the team in the final months of the campaign.
The White and Reds have struggled to show consistency on their travels this season, only picking up 12 points from 11 matches, and they will be heading to an Athletic side that have only lost once at home in the league this term.
There is certainly enough talent in the Girona squad to cause issues, though, and as mentioned, their recent record against Athletic is impressive, including a 3-2 win at San Mames during the 2022-23 La Liga season.
Team News
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Athletic have doubts over Nico Williams, Nico Serrano and Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, with all three needing to be assessed before it is determined whether they can be involved this weekend.
Head coach Valverde is unlikely to make many changes to the side that started against Real Betis last time out, but there could be an alteration to the attack, with Gorka Guruzeta potentially coming in to lead the line.
Unai Gomez could therefore drop to the bench, with Inaki Williams and Alex Berenguer playing in the wide areas.
As for Girona, Oriol Romeu and Daley Blind missed out against Las Palmas, and the pair remain doubts for this contest.
Abel Ruiz was on the scoresheet last time out and is set to continue down the middle for Michel's side this weekend, while there should also be a spot in the number 10 position for Donny van de Beek.
Yaser Asprilla is perhaps the player pushing the hardest to break into the starting side, but it might be a case of same again for Girona on Saturday after securing a much-needed three points last time out.
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; Gorosabel, Vivian, Paredes, Lekue; I Williams, Jauregizar, Vesga, Berenguer; Sancet; Guruzeta
Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; A Martinez, Juanpe, Krejci, Gutierrez; Herrera, Martin; Tsyhankov, Van de Beek, Gil; Ruiz
We say: Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Girona
Athletic have shared the points in three of their last five league matches, including at home to Leganes at the end of January, and Girona are certainly good enough to avoid defeat on Saturday. That said, we are backing Athletic to emerge as narrow winners at San Mames.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
