Athletic Bilbao will be bidding to make it four wins on the bounce in this season’s Europa League by earning another three points against Elfsborg at the Estadio de San Mames on Thursday evening.
After battling their way to a 1-1 draw away at Roma on matchday one, Ernesto Valverde’s side have claimed top honours from their subsequent three fixtures.
That trio of triumphs has left the Lions sitting pretty in sixth spot in the league phase table, just two points behind leaders Lazio.
The Basque Country outfit are also ticking along nicely in La Liga, with Sunday’s 1-0 success against Real Sociedad extending their unbeaten run to five matches.
As for Elfsborg, they have proved that they're no mugs, having claimed the scalp of Roma at home before drawing 1–1 with Braga in this season's Europa League.
That being said, Oscar Hiljemark’s side have come away empty-handed from each of their two Europa League phase games away from home thus far, and they face a tall order to snap that sequence in Spain.
How the bookies view it: Light work for the Lions
Unsurprisingly, Athletic Bilbao are overwhelming 1/6 favourites to bank another three points on Thursday evening.
Elfsborg enter this encounter as massive 12/1 underdogs with Betano, while a share of the San Mames spoils is also deemed unlikely at 11/2 with the same firm.
Head to head: History book blank
Athletic Bilbao and Elfsborg will do battle for the first time ever on Thursday evening. The Lions last came up against Swedish opposition in this competition back in 2017, overcoming Ostersunds 1-0 at this venue.
Players to watch: Inaki worth backing?
Inaki Williams has scored in two of Athletic Bilbao’s last three Europa League matches, making the Spanish star an attractive anytime goalscorer option here at 33/20 on UniBet.
Elfsborg’s Michael Baidoo made the net bulge against both Roma and Galatasaray last month. The Ghanaian midfielder is as big as 6/1 (Bet 365) to strike on Thursday evening.
Predicted line-ups
Athletic Bilbao boss Valverde looks set to have a fully-fit squad available to him for the first time this season.
Elfsborg will once again be unable to call upon the services of veteran forward Per Frick, who has missed the Swedish side's previous five matches due to injury.
Athletic Bilbao: Simon; Gorosabel, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Prados; I. Williams, Berenguer, N. Williams; Guruzeta
Elfsborg: Pettersson; Buhari, Holmen, Yegbe; Hedlund, Ouma, B Zeneli, Hult; A Zeneli, Baidoo, Qasem
Anything else catch the eye?
Elfsborg have, perhaps surprisingly, scored seven goals across opening four Europa League games of the season.
The Swedish side have struck in each of their four league phase outings thus far, netting multiple goals away from home against both AZ and Galatasaray.
In fact, just eight of the 36 teams in the league phase have scored more goals than Elfsborg at this juncture.
With that in mind, Hiljemark’s side would appear to be overpriced to score just one goal on Thursday evening at 19/20 with BetVictor.
This UEFA Europa League match between Athletic Bilbao and Elfsborg will be played on Nov 28, 2024 and kick off at 17:45. Check below for our tipsters best Athletic Bilbao vs Elfsborg prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
