Both seeking to hit the ground running in this season’s Champions League, Athletic Bilbao and Arsenal will square off at the San Mames on Tuesday evening.
The hosts are back in Europe’s premier club competition following an 11-year absence, while the visitors will be looking to improve on last season’s run to the semi-final stage.
After kicking off the new La Liga season with three straight victories, Athletic Bilbao slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Alaves on Saturday.
Ernesto Valverde’s side have little time to feel sorry for themselves as they now face a quick turnaround ahead of Tuesday evening’s showdown with Arsenal.
The Gunners bounced back from a 1-0 loss at Liverpool a fortnight ago with a comfortable 3-0 success against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s men performed well during the league phase of last season’s Champions League, placing 3rd in the new-look league table.
How the bookies view it: Gunners to get up and running
Given that Arsenal are among the favourites to win this season’s Champions League, it makes sense to see them as odds-on 20/23 shots with Boylesports on Tuesday evening.
Athletic Bilbao are big outsiders at 14/5 on Boylesports while a share of the San Mames spoils is also considered unlikely at 5/2 with the same firm.
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Head to head: A first-ever competitive clash
Somewhat surprisingly, Athletic Bilbao and Arsenal will cross paths in a competitive contest for the first time ever on Tuesday evening.
However, it is worth noting that the pair came up against each other in pre-season a little over one month ago, with Arsenal running out 3-0 winners on that occasion.
Players to watch: Nice price for Rice
Declan Rice has committed a minimum of one foul in 13 of his previous 19 appearances for Arsenal across all competitions, making one or more misdemeanour form the Gunners midfielder here an attractive option at 5/6 on Bet365.
Inaki Williams is a player who likes to try his luck in front of goal, evidenced by the fact that he has attempted a combined total of eight shots across his last two outings in La Liga. As such, the Athletic Bilbao ace holds plenty of appeal to register two or more shots during this contest at 5/6 on Bet365.
Predicted line-ups
Athletic Bilbao boss Valverde will be unable to call upon the services of injured trio Benat Prados, Nico Williams and Unai Egiluz, while Aymeric Laporte has not been named in the hosts’ Champions League squad.
Martin Odegaard is the latest player to join what is an ever-growing Arsenal injury list, which already includes Bukayo Saka, Christian Norgaard, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and William Saliba.
Athletic Bilbao: Simon; Areso, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche; Vesga, Jauregizar; I. Williams, Sancet, Berenguer; Sannadi
Arsenal: Raya; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Merino, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Anything else catch the eye?
Given that both of these teams tend to sacrifice flair for success, goals could be in short supply at the San Mames on Tuesday evening.
With that in mind, under 2.5 strikes looks well worthy of support at 4/5 on Boylesports.
This bet would have paid out in two of Athletic Bilbao’s last three matches in La Liga, while the same selection would have also been a winning one in Arsenal’s recent away days at Manchester United and Liverpool.
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