Athletic Bilbao will be looking to bounce back to winning ways in La Liga when they welcome Villarreal to San Mames Stadium for their Matchday 12 tie on Sunday night.
Athletic Bilbao suffered a thrashing 4-0 defeat at Barcelona in La Liga last time out. Ernesto Valverde’s side have now failed to win any of their last four top flight games, drawing two and losing two in the process.
Before that Bilbao were enjoying an impressive start to the campaign. They currently sit sixth on 18 points from 11 games, one point above eighth-placed Osasuna. They will be looking to end their slump and make an addition to their tally points with a win on Sunday as they hope to keep their European place.
Valverde’s side are unbeaten against Villarreal in Spain’s top flight since September 2018, while they recorded a 2-1 victory over the Yellow Submarine in the corresponding match last term. They should therefore be fancying their chances on Sunday.
Villarreal are coming off a 2-2 home draw against Beer Sheva in the Champions League in the midweek. The draw was following a 2-1 home win over Almeria in La Liga, which saw them bounce back from a 3-0 defeat to Barcelona.
The Yellow Submarines have also made an impressive start to the season and have also collected 18 points from their 11 games. They sit seventh, four points off Real Sociedad in fourth, and having won three of their last five league matches; Villarreal should have a better momentum over their Sunday hosts.
The two sides are evenly-matched at the moment and we are expecting an open and entertaining contest on Sunday.
Athletic Bilbao vs Villarreal head to head
Both sides have met in 46 encounters since 1998 with Villarreal claiming 17 victories, while Bilbao have claimed 14 victories and there have been 15 draws.
- Villarreal 1-1 Bilbao 09/04/22
- Bilbao 2-1 Villarreal 23/10/21
- Bilbao 1-1 Villarreal 21/02/21
- Villarreal 1-1 Bilbao 23/12/20
- Bilbao 1-0 Villarreal 01/03/20
Home
- Barcelona 4-0 Bilbao
- Getafe 2-2 Bilbao
- Bilbao 0-1 Atletico
- Sevilla 1-1 Bilbao
- Bilbao 4-0 Almeria
Away
- Villarreal 2-2 Beer Sheva
- Villarreal 2-1 Almeria
- Barcelona 3-0 Villarreal
- Villarreal 2-0 Osasuna
- Austria 0-1 Villarreal
Bilbao team news
Bilbao will be without Dani Gracia and Ander Herrera due to injuries.
Villarreal team news
Villarreal will be without Juan Foyth and Gerrard Moreno due to injuries, while Alex Baena and Manu Morlanes are suspended and Alfonso Pedraza and Etienne Capoue are doubts.
Prediction and odds
- Draw
- Both sides to score
- Goals over 2.5
