Athletic Bilbao vs Leganes predictions, H2H and match preview for this Thursday’s game in LaLiga. Read on for analysis, free betting tips and predicted line-ups as Lega aim to keep their survival hopes alive heading into the final weekend.
by Mark Sochon (@marksoc1)
Athletic Bilbao vs Leganes Preview
There are easier places to go needing a result to stay in the league than San Mames, but that is the situation Leganes find themselves in on Thursday. Defeat would see them relegated to the Segunda Division regardless of results elsewhere and in truth even a draw may not be enough, particularly given Lega face Real Madrid in their final game. They can expect few favours from Athletic though with the Basques needing maximum points to stay in the fight for Europa League football.
Athletic currently sit in 8th place, 3 points behind Getafe and Real Sociedad in the final European slots. Athletic do have the H2H advantage on La Real but not Getafe which could be significant in the final reckoning. Essentially that means that Athletic will still be in with a chance of Europa League qualification going into the final matchday if they win this match, regardless of the results in the other games.
Leganes would have been hoping that Athletic’s season would have been all but over by now. Javier Aguirre’s men have done brilliantly to stay alive until this point, taking 7 points from their last 3 games. They managed to hold on with 10 men for over half an hour to beat Valencia 1-0 at Butarque at the weekend but they are still 4 points from safety and the fear is that their late resurgence has come just too late.
The South Madrid side have clearly shown they are not going to go down without a fight but their physical approach has contributed to extensive selection problems here. In addition to their already fairly long injury list, they are missing Jonathan Silva, Recio and Chidozie Awaziem to suspensions. The fitness of top scorer Óscar Rodríguez as well as Dimitrios Siovas and Guido Carrillo will be monitored and Aguirre may feel as though he has no choice but to take a risk on at least one of them.
Athletic do have some defensive issues of their own. Íñigo Martínez is suspended, Yeray Alvarez is injured while first choice full-backs Ander Capa and Yuri are both rated doubtful which could result in a fairly unfamiliar back four taking to the field.
We have match previews for every game on Thursday night in LaLiga plus some Friday Segunda Division previews.
Athletic Bilbao vs Leganes Predictions
Score Prediction: 2-1 Athletic
Leganes have shown incredible spirit and desire to even take their fight for survival to this point. However you sense this may be the game where their top flight adventure finally ends with their selection problems mounting and up against a solid Athletic side that hasn’t lost at home to any side below 11th in the current standings this term.
Athletic Bilbao vs Leganes Betting Tips (18+)
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Athletic Bilbao vs Leganes H2H
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 3 Athletic Wins, 1 Leganes Win, 2 Draws.
- Athletic have taken 10 points from the last 4 league meetings.
- The only game they didn’t win during that period was a 1-1 draw at Butarque earlier this term.
- Leganes last got a result at San Mames back in the 2016/17 season (1-1).
Predicted Line Ups
Athletic Team:
Simon – Balenziaga, Vivian, Nunez, Capa – Lopez, Dani Garcia – Cordoba, Muniain, Williams – Raul Garcia (4-2-3-1)
Leganes Team:
Cuellar – Siovas, Amadou, Tarin – Rosales, Perez, Mesa, Ruibal – Aviles, Gil – Guerrero (3-4-2-1)
Read more: LaLiga Weekly Review – Matchdays 35 & 36
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