Athletic Bilbao vs Espanyol Match Analysis and Prediction

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Athletic Bilbao will be looking to extend their fine start to the 2022-23 La Liga campaign when the host Espanyol at San Mames on Sunday.

The hosts are currently fourth in the table having picked up seven points from their opening three matches, while Espanyol are 16th boasting just one point from their first three matches.

Athletic have made a strong start to the 2022-23 campaign, picking up seven points from their opening three games, which has left them in fourth place in the table.

The Lions opened kicked off their campaign with a goalless draw against Mallorca before claiming a 1-0 victory over Valencia on August 21. They then put four unanswered goals past Cadiz on August 29 in a strong performance.

Ernesto Valverde’s side recorded a 2-1 victory over Espanyol in the reverse fixture last season, while they have not lost a La Liga game to the Catalan side since November 2018.

Meanwhile, Espanyol began their 2022-23 La Liga campaign with a 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo, but they have lost their subsequent two matches, falling to a 2-0 defeat at home to Rayo Vallecano and losing 3-1 to Real Madrid.

With one point from their three matches so far, Espanyol are currently sitting in 16th place in the table, just a point ahead of bottom-placed Cadiz, and their form is a concern ahead of difficult matches against Sevilla and Real Sociedad before the international break.

Diego Martinez’s side have been active during the summer transfer market and managed to secure Martin Braithwaite’s signature on transfer deadline day following his release from Barcelona.

The Catalan side had the second-worst away record in La Liga last season, picking up just nine points from 19 matches – recording just one victory in the process – a record they will aim to improve this time around.

Athletic Bilbao vs Espanyol head to head

The two teams have previously met on 58 occasions across all competitions, where Athletic have claimed 16 victories while Espanyol have won 22, and they have drawn in 20. Espanyol have scored 79 goals and conceded 70. In their last five meetings, Athletic have won two while they have drawn three.

Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Espanyol 08/03/19

Athletic Bilbao 3-0 Espanyol 30/10/19

Espanyol 1-1 Athletic Bilbao 25/01/20

Espanyol 1-1 Athletic Bilbao 26/10/21

Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Espanyol 07/02/22

Athletic Bilbao latest home form

Athletic Bilbao have recently been on a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their seven most recent matches. They managed to defeat Valencia 1-0 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded just one.

Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Osasuna 15/05/22

Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Real Sociedad 05/08/22

Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Alaves 06/08/22

Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Mallorca 15/08/22

Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Valencia 21/08/22

Athletic Bilbao latest away form

Athletic Bilbao have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just one of their five most recent matches. They defeated Cadiz 4-0 in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 13 goals and conceded four.

Bochum 1-4 Athletic Bilbao 21/07/22

Mainz 1-1 Athletic Bilbao 23/07/22

Newcastle United 2-1 Athletic Bilbao 30/07/22

Mirandes 0-3 Athletic Bilbao 31/07/22

Cadiz 0-4 Athletic Bilbao 29/08/22

Espanyol latest home form

Espanyol have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just two of their nine most recent matches. They lost 3-1 to Real Madrid in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored three goals and conceded six.

Espanyol 0-0 Las Palmas 22/07/22

Espanyol 2-0 Lille 24/07/22

Espanyol 0-1 Linense 28/07/22

Espanyol 0-2 Rayo Vallecano 19/08/22

Espanyol 1-3 Real Madrid 28/08/22

Espanyol latest away form

Espanyol have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having been winless in their 11 most recent matches. They drew 2-2 with Celta Vigo in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded nine.

Alaves 2-1 Espanyol 11/05/22

Granada 0-0 Espanyol 22/05/22

Brighton & Hove Albion 5-1 Espanyol 30/07/22

Napoli 0-0 Espanyol 06/08/22

Celta Vigo 2-2 Espanyol 13/08/22

Athletic Bilbao news

Athletic Bilbao will again miss the services of Mikel Balenziaga, Yuri Berchiche and Inigo Martinez for this weekend’s contest through injury.

Inaki Williams will be ruled out with an ankle problem that he picked up against Cadiz, while Gorka Guruzeta is likely to lead the line for the hosts on Sunday.

Espanyol news

Benjamin Lecomte and Sergi Gomez will be missing for the visitors on Sunday through suspension, while Pol Lozano and Adria Pedrosa will be absent due to injury.

Joan Garcia is expected to take the place of Lecomte, while there could be a spot in the central midfield for Keidi Bare.