Athletic Bilbao will look to return to winning ways in La Liga when they entertain Girona at the Estadio San Mames Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Ernesto Valverde’s side are currently enjoying a 13-game unbeaten run in the Spanish top-flight, however they have drawn each of their last two matches.
While the Basque Country outfit are still occupying fourth position in the table, fifth-placed Villarreal are now just four points behind them.
Seeking to get back on track, the Lions can expect another tough test when they take on Girona this weekend.
While Michel’s men have not managed to hit the heights they scaled last season, they have shown some signs of life of late.
The White and Reds have won three of their last five league games to move up to seventh spot in the standings, the most recent of which saw them edge out Las Palmas 2-1 last time out.
How the bookies view it: Lions to rediscover their roar
Despite drawing each of their last two league games, Athletic Bilbao are odds-on 8/13 favourites on Boylesports to bank all three points on Saturday afternoon.
A third successive stalemate involving Athletic Bilbao can be backed at 11/4 on Boylesports.
Girona are big outsiders at 4/1 on Boylesports to emerge from the Estadio San Mames victorious.
Head to head: A close encounter expected
Neither team has held the upper hand in this fixture in recent years, with each side claiming a win and the points being shared across the last three meetings between the pair. Girona could potentially have the psychological edge after winning this season’s reverse fixture 2-1.
Players to watch: Sancet to sizzle?
With an impressive return of 12 goal involvements across his 23 appearances for Athletic Bilbao in all competitions this season, Oihan Sancet stands out for either a goal or an assist on Saturday afternoon at 6/5 on Bet 365.
Oriol Romeu regularly finds himself on the referee’s radar, evidenced by the fact that he has been booked seven times across his 20 appearances for Girona this season. Thus, the tough-tackling midfielder could be one to keep an eye out for in the player card markets.
Predicted line-ups
Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta has missed each of Athletic Bilbao’s last three matches with a muscle injury, however the hosts are hopeful star man Nico Williams will return to the squad this weekend after missing out against Real Betis last weekend.
Girona manager Michel could stick with the same starting XI that saw off Las Palmas 2-1 on Monday night.
Athletic Bilbao: Simon; Gorosabel, Vivian, Yeray, Boiro; Vesga, Jauregizar; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Gomez
Girona: Gazzaniga; A Martinez, Juanpe, D Lopez, Gutierrez; Herrera, Martin; Tsyhankov, Van de Beek, Gil; Ruiz
Anything else catch the eye?
Athletic Bilbao have been a force to be reckoned with on home turf over the last two seasons in La Liga and they should have enough in the locker to get past a Girona side that have struggled for consistency this term.
With the home team too short to support as a single selection, instead bundle up a Bilbao win alongside under 4.5 goals at 5/6 on Boylesports.
This bet would have laneded in nine of the Lions’ 11 La Liga victories this season so far and another solid if unspectacular success merits support at the San Mames on Saturday.
This La Liga match between Athletic Bilbao and Girona will be played on Feb 8, 2025 and kick off at 15:15. Check below for our tipsters best Athletic Bilbao vs Girona prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
