Athletic Bilbao will be aiming to bounce back from successive defeats when they resume their La Liga campaign with a clash against Celta Vigo on Sunday afternoon.
The Basque outfit have not been in league action since December 21, and an excellent season to date has left them in fourth spot in the La Liga table, while Celta occupy 12th, picking up 24 points from their opening 19 matches of the campaign.
Match preview
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Celta took Real Madrid to extra time in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey on Thursday evening, but they conceded three times in the additional 30 minutes to suffer a 5-2 defeat, with their journey in this season's competition now over.
The Sky Blues therefore only have the league to focus on for the remainder of the season, and they will be bidding to get back on track on Sunday following a 2-1 defeat to Rayo Vallecano in Spain's top flight last weekend.
Claudio Giraldez's side have won seven, drawn three and lost nine of their 19 league matches this term to collect 24 points, which has left them in 12th spot in the table, only four points off seventh-placed Real Sociedad.
Celta have been an excellent watch this term, scoring 28 times and conceding 30 in their 19 league fixtures, while their home form this season is the fourth-best in the division, picking up 20 points from 10 matches.
The Sky Blues also beat Athletic 2-1 in the corresponding match between the two sides last term, but they suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Basque outfit in their contest in the early stages of this campaign.
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Athletic were beaten 2-0 by Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup on January 8, before suffering a 3-2 loss to Osasuna in the Copa del Rey on Thursday night, with the holders now out of the competition.
The Lions are still active in two competitions, though, including the Europa League, with an excellent campaign to date leaving them in second spot in the overall table, boasting 16 points from their opening six matches.
Ernesto Valverde's side are also fighting for a top-four spot in La Liga this term, and they have not been beaten in Spain's top flight since the start of October, which is a run of 10 matches unbeaten.
Athletic are fourth in the table on 36 points, six points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal and just two points behind third-placed Barcelona, with the team boasting a record of 10 wins, six draws and three defeats from 19 games.
The Red and Whites are bidding to secure their first top-four finish in La Liga since 2014, and they have been impressive on their travels during the 2024-25 campaign, picking up 18 points from their nine away La Liga fixtures.
Team News
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Celta will be without the services of Marcos Alonso through suspension this weekend, while Alfon Gonzalez, Tadeo Allende, Jailson and Iago Aspas are all facing late fitness tests for the contest.
Head coach Giraldez will make changes to the side that started against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey, with Pablo Duran and Jonathan Bamba expected to be introduced into the XI.
Franco Cervi could also feature in a wide area, but there will certainly be another start through the middle for Borja Iglesias.
As for Athletic, Oihan Sancet is a doubt due to a muscular problem, but the visitors are otherwise in excellent shape.
The home defeat to Osasuna would have been even more disappointing considering the strength of the side that Valverde named, and the majority of those are expected to be given the chance to bounce back this weekend.
Aitor Paredes should be fit despite his withdrawal at the interval of the clash with Osasuna, while it is once again expected to be Nico Williams, Alex Berenguer and Inaki Williams in support of centre-forward Gorka Guruzeta.
Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Mingueza, Starfelt, Dominguez, Carreira; Moriba, Beltran; Duran, Bamba, Cervi; Iglesias
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; Gorosabel, Vivian, Paredes, Yuri; Jauregizar, Ruiz de Galarreta; I Williams, Berenguer, N Williams; Guruzeta
We say: Celta Vigo 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
Athletic will enter this match off the back of two disappointing results in the cup, but their league form is excellent, and we are struggling to back them to lose here; Celta, though, have been strong at home this term, and we have had to settle on a low-scoring draw here despite being close to backing an away success.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
