Athletic Bilbao will begin their 2022/23 La Liga season this Monday when they welcome Real Mallorca to Estadio San Mamés.
Venue: Estadio San Mamés (Bilbao)
Key Statistics
Athletic Bilbao had the third-best defence in La Liga last season, behind only Real Madrid (31) and Sevilla (30).
The hosts won ten league games at San Mames with that record only bettered by sides that finished inside the top four.
They have won six of their past ten home matches
Athletic Bilbao have scored 2+ goals in six of their past ten home matches.
Real Mallorca have lost eight of their last ten away matches.
They failed to score in six of their last ten away matches.
The visitors have conceded 2+ goals in six of their last ten away matches.
Head to head
Athletic have won the last six home head-to-head, with Mallorca scoring just two goals in that time.
Latest performances in all competitions
Bilbao: D-W-W-L-D
Mallorca: D-D-W-W-D
Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao will begin life under Ernesto Valverde for the third time this Monday when they welcome Mallorca to San Mamés.
The hosts lost former head coach Marcelino Garcia Toral this summer after the Spanish decided to step down from his role at the club despite guiding them to a respectable eighth-place finish last season – their joint highest for five campaigns – whilst also lifting the Spanish Super Cup only last year.
Valverde, who returns for his third stint in charge of the Basque club, will look to build on the success of Marcelino. The former Barcelona boss enjoyed relative success in his former stints as Bilbao coach, winning 140 out of 306 games.
Although he has been absent from the dugout since January 2020, he begins his 10th job full of motivation. So far, the signs have been positive as Los Leones won three of their pre-season games, suffering only one defeat to Premier League side Newcastle.
Given that his side have won the last six meetings between both sides at this stadium, Valverde will fancy his chances of earning his first win of the new season in this game.
Possible Athletic Bilbao starting line-up
Julen Agirrezabala; Oscar de Marcos, Daniel Vivian, Inigo Lekue, Yuri Berchiche; Nico Williams, Iker Mûnein, Dani Garcia, Unai Vencedor, Mikel Vesga; Inaki Williams.
Injured: Mikel Balenziaga, Inigo Martinez
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Real Mallorca
Mallorca will look to begin the new season better than they ended the last when they travel to Bilbao on Monday night.
The visitors will count themselves lucky to be playing in this fixture after surviving relegation by the thinnest of margins last season thanks to a 2-0 victory over Osasuna on the last day of the season.
The win over Osasuna was part of a three-game series that saw Javier Aguirre’s side go unbeaten while keeping two clean sheets.
They also carried over that form to their pre-season, where they played six games without tasting defeat while winning three times. But the most encouraging aspect of their game that was highlighted during their pre-season game is their deafening.
Mallorca kept five clean sheets in six friendly games while they also failed to score in only two games. For a team that conceded 63 goals last season–the third worst in the league–that represents a move in the right direction.
After overseeing Mallorca’s miraculous survival last season, Aguirre will now hope that he can do much more than keep them in the league. His target will be to get as many points as possible and perhaps guide his side closer to the top half of the table.
Possible Mallorca starting line-up
Predrag Rajkovic; Pablo Maffeo, Martin Valjent, Antonio Raillo, Manuel Arias, Jaume costa; Daniel Rodríguez, Iddrisa Baba, Clement Grenier; Angel Rodriguez, Vedat Muriqi.
Injured: Ndiaye Diedhiou
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Bilbao 2-1 Mallorca
