Villarreal host Athletic Bilbao at the Estadio de la Ceramica in a Spanish La Liga fixture on Saturday. The Yellow Submarines are looking confident at the moment, while the visitors are struggling to find their best form.
Villarreal have made a strong start to the season and are third in the table after four wins and a draw from six matches. They claimed a 2-1 victory at Sevilla in their previous fixture, with Tani Oluwaseyi and Manor Solomon getting the goals.
Marcelino's men often do their best work at home and have won their three league matches at the Estadio de la Ceramica this season. Among their results on this run is a 5-0 victory over Girona.
Athletic Bilbao head into this clash off the back of a 1-1 home draw with Girona last time out in La Liga. They fell behind early in the first half but struck back after the break through Mikel Jauregizar.
That result extends Athletic Bilbao’s winless run to four matches as their good early-season form appears to have evaporated. Ernesto Valverde's men have been beaten four times on this run, including a 2-0 defeat at Valencia last time out on the road.
How the bookies view it: Villarreal are clear favourites
The bookies have installed Villarreal as favourites, with a home win priced at 10/11 by BoyleSports. A victory for Athletic Bilbao is valued at 5/2, while a draw is set at odds of 12/5.
Head to head: Villarreal with the edge
Villarreal have a 16-13 edge with 15 draws from 44 previous matches against Athletic Bilbao. The last meeting between both sides ended in a 0-0 draw back in April.
Players to watch: Pepe in top form
Nicolas Pepe has two goals this season, while Georges Mikautadze has found the net once. Both men will be the ones to watch for Villarreal and can combine to produce over 1.5 goals for the hosts (Villarreal over 1.5 goals – available at 20/23 with BoyleSports.
Athletic Bilbao have spread their goals across the team this season, with Oihan Sancet and Jauregizar all on target. They can combine to ensure the visitors produce over 0.5 goals – offered at 4/11.
Probable line-ups:
Villarreal have injury problems, with Ilias Akhomach, Juan Foyth Navarro, Logan Costa, Willy Kambwala, Gerard Moreno, Ayoze Perez and Pau Cabanes all sidelined. The hosts should play with Luis Junior, Renato Veiga, Sergi Cardona, Pape Gueye, Pepe, Buchanan and Mikautadze in the starting XI.
For Athletic Bilbao, their injury list has Nico Williams, Benat Prados and Unai Egiluz all ruled out of Saturday's clash. Meanwhile, Unai Simon starts between the sticks, with Daniel Vivian and Aitor Paredes in defence, while Jauregizar, Mikel Vesga, Sancet, Inaki Williams and Gorka Guruzeta are also expected to feature.
Villarreal: Junior, Mourino, Marin, Veiga, Cardona, Partey, Gueye, Moleiro, Pepe, Buchanan, Mikautadze
Athletic Bilbao: Simon, Areso, Paredes, Vivian, Berchiche, Vesga, Jauregizar, Williams, Sancet, Berenguer, Guruzeta
Anything else catch the eye?
Both teams have scored in Villarreal’s last two La Liga matches (BTTS YES – priced at 8/13 with BoyleSports). Both fixtures also produced over 2.5 goals – set at odds of 3/4.
Villarreal have scored first in two of their last three home matches (Villarreal to score first – valued at 7/10).
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