Granada vs Athletic Bilbao Match Analysis and Prediction

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Having put back their survival destiny in their own hands, Granada continue their bid for La Liga football next season against Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday.

The hosts cruised to a 6-2 victory over fellow relegation candidates Mallorca on Saturday, while Athletic Bilbao played out a goalless draw with Valencia.

Aitor Karanka had seen his side pick up draws with Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo before the journey to Mallorca, and the new manager bounce was in full effect in the basement battle.

Luis Suarez, Myrto Uzuni, Antonio Puertas and Sergio Escudero all scored alongside a brace from Jorge Molina in an eye-catching goalscoring showing from Granada, who began the day in 18th but are now sitting outside the relegation zone in 17th.

Karanka will now want to see his side ending an eight-game winless home streak stretching way back to their 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid just before Christmas, but taking on Athletic Bilbao, Real Betis and Espanyol is a far from smooth end to the season for Granada.

Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao witnessed opposing defender Gabriel Paulista stretchered off with a serious ankle injury and Hugo Guillamon given his matching orders in the last minutes, but could not find their way through the Valencia backline at the weekend.

While that 0-0 draw will be regarded as two points dropped, Marcelino Garcia’s side are not out of the European conversation just yet and could break into the top five if results favour them towards the end of the campaign.

Athletic sit just outside the European places in eighth, just a point behind Villarreal and taking seven points from their last three games has aided Marcelino’s bid for continental football at San Mames.

They have won only one of their last six away games across all competition and drew 2-2 with Granada at home back in November.

Granada vs Athletic Bilbao head to head

The two teams have previously met on 19 occasions in all competitions, where Athletic have claimed eight victories while Granada have won seven, and they have drawn in four. Athletic have scored 23 goals and conceded 23. In their last five meetings, Athletic have won one, Granada three with one draw.

Granada 2-1 Athletic Bilbao 05/03/22

Granada 4-0 Athletic Bilbao 19/07/20

Granada 2-0 Athletic Bilbao 12/09/20

Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Granada 07/03/21

Athletic Bilbao 2-2 Granada 26/11/21

Granada latest home form

Granada have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, as they have been winless in their eight most recent matches. In their last home game, they drew 1-1 with Celta Vigo in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded eight.

Granada 0-0 Cadiz 28/02/22

Granada 0-1 Elche 12/03/22

Granada 2-2 Rayo Vallecano 03/04/22

Granada 1-4 Levante 17/04/22

Granada 1-1 Celta Vigo 01/05/22

Granada latest away form

Granada have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just one of their five most recent matches. In their last away game, they managed to defeat Mallorca 6-2 in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 16 goals and conceded eight.

Alaves 2-3 Granada 19/03/22

Real Jaen 0-5 Granada 25/03/22

Sevilla 4-2 Granada 08/04/22

Atletico Madrid 0-0 Granada 20/04/22

Mallorca 2-6 Granada 07/05/22

Athletic Bilbao latest home form

Athletic have recently been on a good run of form at home, having lost just one of their 11 most recent matches. In their last home game, they have played out a goalless draw with Valencia in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded four.

Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Getafe 18/03/22

Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Elche 03/04/22

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Celta Vigo 17/04/22

Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Atletico Madrid 30/04/22

Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Valencia 07/05/22

Athletic Bilbao latest away form

Athletic have recently been on an upturn in form on the road, having been unbeaten in their two most recent away matches. Their last away defeat came 1-0 against Real Betis on March 13 in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded nine.

Barcelona 4-0 Athletic Bilbao 27/02/22

Valencia 1-0 Athletic Bilbao 02/03/22

Real Betis 1-0 Athletic Bilbao 13/03/22

Villarreal 1-1 Athletic Bilbao 09/04/22

Cadiz 2-3 Athletic Bilbao 21/04/22

Granada news

Raul Torrente, Carlos Neva, Ruben Rochina and Daniel Raba all remain in the treatment room, and Puetas was also forced to come off against Mallorca with an unknown issue.

Molina and Uzuni are likely to come into the first XI, and Maxime Gonalons should cover for the suspended Njegos Petrovic.

Athletic Bilbao news

Oihan Sancet should be missing through injury, while Marcelino will be forced into a defensive change with Oscar de Marcos suspended.

So, either Inigo Lekue or Alex Petxa should fill in at the back this week, while Inaki Williams and Dani Garcia are both are one booking away from a one-game ban.

Prediction and Odds

Granada enter the contest having suffered fresh injury blows with three of their main scoreres at the weekend, so their strong start of life under Karanka could be halted here.

Athletic Bilbao are in strong form and can take advantage of Granada’s lengthy injury list to get the three points.

Odds: 1 2.68 X 2.05 2 2.15