Read our prediction for Ath Bilbao vs Villarreal below. This preview was written by a sport journalist who is specialised in betting tips and predictions. Use our betting tips for the match between Ath Bilbao vs Villarreal and you can increase your winnings!
Ath Bilbao vs Villarreal Prediction & Betting tips
Athletic Bilbao meets Villarreal at San Mames in Bilbao. Roughly speaking, both teams are in the middle of the Spanish top league and still have great ambitions this season.
For the hosts, this game is not necessarily the most important of the next few days, because during the week the enormously important second leg takes place in the semi-final of the Copa del Rey against Granada. Can Athletic Maintain Concentration?
Athletic Bilbao:
Athletic Bilbao isn’t exactly a spectacle this season. What distinguishes the team is that they are able to achieve an enormous balance on the pitch and give the opponent little opportunity to develop.
Significant: A total of nine goals have been scored in the last five competitive matches. This is a very small value, which leads to Athletic Bilbao vs. Villarreal’s tip is that less than 2.5 goals will be scored. Especially since Bilbao will not be concerned about an open exchange of blows in view of the upcoming important game against Granada.
So the key is controlled offensive. An early start will certainly take place, but more situationally. The hosts will try to destroy the flow of the game and cause problems for Villarreal.
The Basques, who are currently ranked 11th in La Liga, are very good at this. The 22 goals conceded so far speak a clear language, but there are only 24 goals scored against them. Patience is required – and this applies to both teams in this game.
The gap to the international ranks, in 7th place, on which Villarreal is of all places, is seven points. With a win, the host could be back in the race, and a cup success would also mean a qualification. How it looks in the league can be followed using the tables on our website.
However, a victory does not seem to be very likely, because the hosts in the league have been waiting for a sense of achievement for ten games, many duels in the end ended in a draw.
The personnel situation is relaxed. Oscar de Marcos is defensively absent, Asier Villalibre has to be avoided. In addition, something could be rotated.
Villarreal :
Villarreal would certainly like to be a bit higher in the table than it is currently. The lack of constancy is a problem. After it looked very good in December and early January, the last three games were significant again. A 1-1 against Valladolid, a 2-1 win against Levante and a 1-3 loss against Atletico clearly show the problem.
In addition, the “yellow submarine” has conceded at least one goal in seven successive games since the 1-0 win against Getafe at the end of December. This statistic can of course also be expanded.
And yet the trend in comparison with the host speaks more for the guests. However, before the game Athletic Bilbao vs. Villarreal balanced the odds enormously. Generally there are recurring patterns on the defensive of Villarreal, although 35 goals conceded do not represent a catastrophic record. But: All six teams standing in front of the club have a better odds.
A better defense and more consistency are the key to a good final position at Villarreal, fourth place and thus the Champions League are only five points away. If Javier Calleja’s team wins at San Mames, you can still dream of the premier class.
The situation at Villarreal has rarely been as relaxed as it is now. Bruno Soriano and Manu Morlanes are two midfielders missing, the rest of the squad is available. Coach Calleja can draw on plenty.
Ath Bilbao vs Villarreal head to head matches
03.11.19 LL Villarreal Ath Bilbao 0 : 0
20.01.19 LL Villarreal Ath Bilbao 1 : 1
26.09.18 LL Ath Bilbao Villarreal 0 : 3
09.04.18 LL Villarreal Ath Bilbao 1 : 3
19.11.17 LL Ath Bilbao Villarreal 1 : 1