Granada vs Athletic Bilbao predictions and match preview for this Saturday’s game in LaLiga. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted line ups as the new campaign kicks off with a repeat of a final day fixture from last term.
- DATE: Saturday 12th September 2020
- KICK-OFF: 18:30 (local time)
- VENUE: Los Cármenes, Granada
Granada vs Athletic Bilbao Preview
This was due to be the opening game for the new season on Friday night but it’ll now take place on Saturday following a disagreement between LaLiga and the RFEF. This will be Athletic’s 3rd visit to Los Carmenes in 2020 having travelled here in the Copa del Rey earlier in the year while this is also a repeat of each team’s final game from the 2019/20 season.
Granada won that match 4-0 to secure European qualification for the first time in the club’s history. They start that campaign next week with a trip to Albania to look forward to but before then they’ll be hoping to send out an early signal that last season’s success was no flash in the pan.
That will surely be the message from Diego Martinez who has been busy in the transfer market with nine new signings including veteran striker Jorge Molina and midfielder Luis Milla. Several of the other new arrivals, including key man Yangel Herrera, return having been on loan at the Andalusian club last term though, so there should still be plenty of continuity.
As for Athletic, it has been another quiet summer with no notable comings or goings. A deal for former midfielder Javi Martinez remains in the pipeline and would be a real boost for Gaizka Garitano moving forward. The Basque giants do have some promising young players emerging though with the likes of Oihan Sancet and Jon Morcillo potentially offering a creative boost this year for a side that struggled for goals in 2019/20.
Overall though, we aren’t likely to see anything radically different from these two teams in terms of tactics than we saw last term. Raul Garcia looks set to continue as Athletic’s first choice striker in a 4-2-3-1 while Roberto Soldado should continue up top for Granada despite the arrival of Jorge Molina.
Season Previews: Granada | Athletic
Granada vs Athletic Bilbao H2H
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 2 Granada Wins, 4 Athletic Wins.
- Granada have won the last 2 meetings – both in 2020 at Los Carmenes.
- They won 4-0 when the sides met on the final day of last season and 2-1 in a Copa del Rey Semi on this ground in March.
- However Athletic did still emerge from that tie on away goals and had won all of their previous 4 matches against the Andalusian side.
Predicted Line Ups
Granada Team
Rui Silva – Neva, Duarte, Sanchez, Diaz – Herrera, Milla, Gonalons – Machis, Soldado, Puertas (4-3-3)
Athletic Team:
Simon – Balenziaga, Martinez, Yeray, Capa – Lopez, Garcia – Muniain, Sancet, Williams – Garcia (4-2-3-1)
Granada vs Athletic Bilbao Predictions
Score Prediction: 1-0 Granada
We should see a closer game than we saw when these sides met on the final day of last season here but Granada still look the more likely winners. They were very strong at Los Carmenes last term and have done a good job of bolstering their squad with some smart additions. The hosts might just nick this against an Athletic side that looks like it will struggle for goals again.
Granada vs Athletic Bilbao Betting Tips (18+)
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