ATHLETIC BILBAO have home advantage for a fantastic-looking clash from La Liga on Sunday, with the two sides locked on 18 points and knocking on the door of the top four. Here we preview Athletic Bilbao vs Real Betis which kicks off on Sunday, November 3rd at the Estadio San Mamés.
How the bookies view it: Bilbao backed at San Mames
Despite Bilbao and Betis both sitting on 18 points heading into this clash, Athletic Bilbao are 10/11 odds-on favourites to win the match with Ladbrokes. That’s down to four wins in their last seven league games and carrying a bigger goal-scoring threat than the visitors, who are long 3/1 underdogs. That’s may be surprisingly long odds, seeing as Betis have won three of their last four.
Recent head-to-head: Betis with the edge
Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis traded home wins last season in the league, and both fixtures went over the 3.5 goal line. Looking at the longer head-to-head form, Real Betis have only lost one of their last five against Bilbao (home and away). So why are they such long underdogs? It could be down to their poor record at San Mames as they have lost nine of their last ten league away matches against Bilbao, but they have scored in each of their last three there.
Players to watch: Sancet to light up Bilbao?
Oihan Sancet is Bilbao’s top scorer in the league this season with four goals to his name, one ahead of Inaki Williams. So there has been a big output from Bilbao’s midfielder this season, and Williams scored twice in Athletic Bilbao’s last home game, a 4-1 drubbing of Espanyol.
Real Betis have been much more goal-shy than Athletic Bilbao this season, scoring six fewer heading into this game, for an average of one per match. They have a few injury problems which have hampered them in attack this season and their top scorer Giovani Lo Celso is out, leaving Vitor Roque as their most likely source up top.
Predicted Lineups
Athletic Bilbao are still missing their first-choice keeper Unai Simon, which is about the only injury problem that they have at the moment. Things are not as rosy for Betis however, as Lo Celso is on the treatment table along with a handful of others including Isco, William Carvalho and Hector Bellerin.
Athletic Bilbao: Agirrezabala; Gorosabel, Yeray, Vivian, Yuri; Ruiz de Galarreta, Jaureguizar; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Guruzeta
Real Betis: Silva; Ruibal, Bartra, Llorente, Perraud; Fornals, Cardoso, Altimira, Zalzali; Avila, Roque
Anything else catches the eye?
Athletic Bilbao have only failed to score in one of their last seven league matches, and their only home loss this season (W3 D2) happened against Atlético Madrid. So they are in decent shape at the moment and are undefeated in their last three on home turf in the top flight.
There are some weaknesses at the back as they have only kept one home clean sheet, but as a positive, they haven’t conceded more than one goal in a home fixture during the campaign. Because of that, the option for both teams to score may come onto the radar.
Real Betis have injury problems but will have some stability as they will probably send out the same starting eleven that started their surprise 1-0 home win over Atletico Madrid last time out. Real Betis however, have struggled for road successes this season with only a W1 D2 L2 return from their travels and failing to score in three of those five.
This La Liga match between Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis will be played on Nov 3, 2024 and kick off at 20:00. Check below for our tipsters best Athletic Bilbao vs Real Betis prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
