Athletic Bilbao and Mallorca will both kick of their 2022-23 La Liga campaign with a fixture at San Mames on Monday.
The hosts are looking to improve on last season’s eighth-placed finish, while Mallorca are relieved to be spending another year in the top flight after narrowly missing the relegation.
Off the back of an eighth-placed finish, Athletic would likely have kept Marcelino Garcia Toral in the dugout had he not made the decision to step down from his role.
However, the return of Ernesto Valverde has been the response to that disappointment, and he begins his third stint at a club that has helped make his career.
In his two previous periods with at the club, Valverde has taken charge of 306 matches, winning 140 of them, and it earned him his opportunity to become the head coach of Barcelona.
He has been absent from the dugout since January 2020, but the 58-year-old begins his 10th job full of motivation to earn European football for 2023-24.
Athletic enjoyed a productive pre-season, their lone defeat in eight matches coming at Newcastle United, and Valverde has the challenge of trying to get the best out of a crop of players which is currently weaker in comparison to last season’s squad.
Mallorca looked near candidates to be handed an immediate return back down to the second tier at one stage during last season.
However, seven points came from their final three matches, Javier Aguirre spearheading a revival which would see the club stay in the top flight by one point.
With Vedat Muriqi having converted his loan deal into a permanent stay, Mallorca look well equipped to build on that momentum under their well-travelled head coach.
They appear to have enjoyed a strong period in the transfer market, with goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic a notable addition from Reims.
Athletic Bilbao vs Mallorca head to head
The two teams have previously met on 40 occasions across all competitions, where Bilbao have claimed 18 victories while Mallorca have won 14, and they have drawn in eight. Bilbao have scored 57 goals and conceded 51. In their last five meetings, Bilbao have won three, Mallorca one with one draw.
Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Mallorca 11/05/13
Mallorca 0-0 Athletic Bilbao 13/09/19
Athletic Bilbao 3-1 Mallorca 27/06/20
Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Mallorca 11/09/21
Mallorca 3-2 Athletic Bilbao 14/02/22
Athletic Bilbao latest home form
Athletic Bilbao have recently been on a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their five most recent matches. They played out a 1-1 draw with Alaves in their last home game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded one.
Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Atletico Madrid 30/04/22
Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Valencia 07/05/22
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 latest away form
Athletic Bilbao have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just two of their six most recent matches. They defeated Mirandes 3-0 in their last away game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored nine goals and conceded five.
Sevilla 1-0 Athletic Bilbao 22/05/22
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
Mallorca latest home form
Mallorca have recently been on a good run of form at home, as they have won each of their three most recent matches. They managed to defeat Sporting Gijon 1-0 in their last home game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded eight.
Mallorca 2-1 Alaves 19/04/22
Mallorca 2-6 Granada 07/05/22
Mallorca 2-1 Rayo Vallecano 15/05/22
Mallorca 3-0 Wieczysta Krakow 16/07/22
Mallorca 1-0 Sporting Gijon 27/07/22
Mallorca latest away form
Mallorca have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their five most recent matches. They defeated Ibiza through penalties after a goalless draw in their last away game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded one.
Sevilla 0-0 Mallorca 11/05/22
Osasuna 0-2 Mallorca 22/05/22
Genoa 0-1 Mallorca 22/07/22
Napoli 1-1 Mallorca 31/07/22
Ibiza 0-0(P) Mallorca 07/08/22
Athletic Bilbao news
Athletic Bilbao’s first-choice goalkeeper Unai Simon remains on the sidelines, leaving Ander Iruarrizaga in line to feature between the sticks on Monday.
Inaki Williams should lead the line for the hosts, while Inigo Martinez will feature in defence after being linked with a switch to Barcelona ealier in the summer.
Mallorca news
Mallorca will make do without Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta through injury, while Pablo Maffeo is likely to be given a debut on the right-hand side of the backline.
With five goals and three assists during the second half of last season, Muriqi should get the nod over Abdon Prats down the middle of the attack.
Prediction and Odds
Both teams head into the contest motivated to make a positive impression on Monday, most notably Bilbao because of their high-profile change in leadership.
Mallorca may mount a challenge at San Mames, but we feel that the hosts will have enough quality to edge out the vistors having the home advantage.
Odds: 1 2.10 X 2.05 2 2.28
Probable outcomes
Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Mallorca
Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Mallorca
Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Mallorca
Athletic Bilbao 3-1 Mallorca
Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Mallorca
