The opening fixture for the 2020-21 La Liga campaign kick starts this weekend. It will see side Granada play host to side Athletic Bilbao at Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes. The match schedules for Saturday with kickoff at 7:30 pm.
Granada ended the season on a high note, managing to claim the 7th spot in the rankings. The position will see the side take on the Europa league qualification action next week. The same can’t be said for Bilbao with an 11th finish last season.
The last season for Granada ended with sixteen wins, eight draws, and fourteen losses. It was an impressive 58 points from 38 matches that ended in a 7th finish. The impressive form grants the side a second qualifying round in the Europa League.
An clear progression in La Liga because it was in Segunda Division for the side given two seasons. Last season marked their highest finish in the league since the 1973-1974 campaign season.
Before the season-opening fixture, Athletic had four season friendlies. It started with a 4-0 loss to side Granada. The losing form carried forward with a 3-1 loss to side Logrones and a draw to Eibar and Real Oviedo.
It was an unimpressive run in the previous La Liga for the Basque outfit. The out of form side ended with losing four of their last five matches that saw the side fall down the rankings.
Granada vs. Athletic Bilbao Head to Head
Both sides have 16 games against each other, with Granada taking home six wins while Athletic with seven wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
Real Betis 3-2 Granada
Malaga 0-0 Granada
Granada 0-3 Real Vallavoid
Granada 4-0 Athletic Bilbao
RCD Mallorca 1-2 Granada
Away
Athletic Bilbao 2-2 Eibar
Real Oviedo 2-2 Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Deportivo Alaves
Granada 4-0 Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Leganes
Granada Team News
After arriving on loan from Chelsea, Kennedy looks set to get the ground running this weekend. Other new faces pushing for a start in the midfield include Millas and Gonalons.
Athletic Bilbao Team News
Inaki Williams and Raul Garcia look set on making this season a memorable one after a lackluster performance saw the side fall slowly from mid-table rankings. Orhan Sancet sets to make a solid start to this campaign.
Prediction and Odds
Granada proved to be the better side in their previous encounters, and we expect the same form for the side.
Granada Win
Goals Under 3.5
Both Sides to Score