Real Valladolid vs Athletic Bilbao predictions and match preview for Sunday’s LaLiga match. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as the hosts target their first win of the new campaign.
- DATE: Sunday 8th November 2020
- KICK-OFF: 18:30 (local time)
- VENUE: Jose Zorrilla
- COMPETITION: LaLiga
Real Valladolid vs Athletic Bilbao Preview
Athletic Club travel to the Jose Zorrilla in LaLiga this weekend. It was the scene of a relatively rare strong away performance from the Basques last season and Gaizka Garitano will be targeting another win as they look to build on an impressive victory over Sevilla last time out.
It’d probably be unfair to say there is real pressure building on Real Valladolid boss Sergio given the magnificent job he has done at this club with relatively limited resources. However these are certainly worrying times now for Real Valladolid who are bottom of LaLiga and without a win so far this term.
Their efforts to try and evolve into something a bit more than the functional defensive side which has avoided relegation in the last two seasons, have so far failed. The new arrivals that were supposed to bring more cutting edge to their attacking play have so far not delivered much and Sergio will also be disappointed by his team’s failure to keep a single clean sheet.
Athletic ought to fancy this and they picked up a really good 2-1 win against a strong Sevilla side last time out. Substitutes Iker Muniain and Oihan Sancet scored late goals to give Gaizka Garitano’s side the result that their performance perhaps warranted.
Trying to replicate those kinds of strong home showings on the road has always been a challenge for Athletic though, at least in recent years. They’ve lost 3 of their 4 road games so far and they haven’t had a particularly difficult set of away fixtures with their most recent defeats coming in derbies at Alaves and Osasuna.
Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 1 Real Valladolid Win, 3 Athletic Wins, 2 Draws.
- Athletic were 4-1 winners here in March but Real Valladolid did take a point from their trip to San Mames earlier on last season.
- Indeed Athletic were without a win in 3 matches against Valladolid prior to that big win at the Jose Zorrilla.
- The sides also drew 2-2 in a friendly last month.
Team News
Nacho returns from a ban and should start for the hosts at left-back. Kiko Olivas is out injured.
Iker Muniain should start having starred as a super-sub last time out. Oihan Sancet may have to settle for a place on the bench again though despite netting the winner in that game.
Predicted Real Valladolid Starting Lineup:
Masip – Nacho, Yamiq, Fernandez, Perez – Villa, Emeterio, Alcaraz, Orellana – Guardiola, Weissman (4-4-2)
Predicted Athletic Starting Lineup:
Simon – Balenziaga, Martinez, Yeray, Capa – Garcia, Lopez – Berenguer, Garcia, Muniain – Williams (4-2-3-1)
Real Valladolid vs Athletic Bilbao Predictions
Score Prediction: Real Valladolid 0-1 Athletic
This is a really tough one to call. While Athletic have been poor on their travels, they have every reason to take belief from the way they played against Sevilla last time out. Confidence in the Real Valladolid camp will be at rock bottom you sense and they just don’t look like a team that is offering a goal threat. Athletic may nick this.
LaLiga Betting Tips (18+)
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LaLiga match previews for every game this weekend.
