Athletic Bilbao vs Levante predictions and match preview for Sunday’s game in LaLiga. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as two sides who have made relatively slow starts to the season meet.
- DATE: Sunday 18th October 2020
- KICK-OFF: 14:00 (local time)
- VENUE: San Mames
- COMPETITION: LaLiga Santander
Athletic Bilbao vs Levante Preview
This is a genuinely big game for Athletic Club who have made a poor start to the season despite a relatively kind set of opening fixtures. Gaizka Garitano has done a good job at San Mames but this is a huge football club and patience may start to wear thin if Athletic can’t start producing better performances and better results soon.
Their poor form stretches back to the end of last season in truth. They lost 4 of their final 5 games in 2019/20 and while many suspected that missing out on Europa League qualification wasn’t a disastrous outcome given the congested nature of this season, they really haven’t got going yet this time around either. Their last two matches have seen them lose at home to the 9 men of newly promoted Cadiz and then lose a derby away to previously winless Alaves.
Levante will be hoping to pile the pressure on Garitano by leaving San Mames with another major scalp. They can be dangerous opponents for just about anyone in LaLiga but they do also currently sit in the relegation zone, matching Athletic’s tally of 3 points from 4 games to date.
The Valencia club have had tougher fixtures though and are yet to actually play at their own stadium with their first ‘home game’ a fortnight ago seeing them lose 2-0 to Real Madrid at Villarreal’s Estadio Ceramica. They won’t be too concerned by their current plight with Paco Lopez’s side playing some good football at times this season and they do have a host of more winnable games coming up.
Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 4 Athletic Wins, 2 Levante Wins.
- Athletic have won all of the last 3 meetings, securing 2-1 victories in both fixtures last season.
- They’ve won 5 of the last 6 meetings at San Mames.
- The exception was a 3-1 Levante win in Bilbao in April 2018.
Team News
Yuri is out with COVID-19 for Athletic but Yeray should be fit to return in the centre of defence.
Levante are close to full strength and we shouldn’t see too many alterations from their last game against Real Madrid although Ruben Rochina is expected to be fit enough to start.
Predicted Athletic Starting Lineup:
Simon – Balenciaga, Yeray, Martinez, Capa – Garcia, Lopez – Cordoba, Muniain, Williams – Raul Garcia (4-2-3-1)
Predicted Levante Starting Lineup:
Aitor – Clerc, Vezo, Postigo, Miramon – Rochina, Malsa, Vukcevic, Campana – Morales, Marti (4-4-2)
Athletic Bilbao vs Levante Predictions
Score Prediction: Athletic 1-2 Levante
Athletic really don’t look very good at the moment with almost no signs of genuine creativity in their ranks. They are also one of the teams more likely to suffer from the absence of supporters. Levante have shown time and time again they are capable of raising their game when they play the big clubs and they could just spring another surprise here.
LaLiga Betting Tips (18+)
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