Athletic Bilbao will return to league action this Monday with a visit from Osasuna.
Venue: Estadio San Mamés (Bilbao)
Key Statistics
Athletic Bilbao are unbeaten in their last five competitive games (W4, D1).
They have five wins from seven La Liga home games (D1, L1) against clubs below them in the standings.
The hosts have scored two or more goals in six of their past ten home matches.
Osasuna have one win in their last six league away wins as outsiders (D2, L3).
They have lost their last two league games, conceding four times.
Head to head
Athletic Club have four wins in their last games against Osasuna (D2, L2).
Latest performances in all competitions
Athletic Club: W-D-W-W-W
Osasuna: W-L-W-D-W
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club will look to get back to winning ways in the league when they welcome Osasuna to Estadio San Mamés on Monday.
The hosts couldn’t honour the late memory of club legend Txetxu Rojo with a victory away to Real Betis, eventually drawing the game nil-nil.
However, they at least extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to five games (W4, D1) last time out when they beat Eldense 6-1 in the Copa del Rey.
They remain solidly in pursuit of their first UEFA Champions League appearance since 2014/15 as they come into this tie sitting in fifth place, two points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.
Ahead of some stern tests against Sociedad and Real Madrid later in the month, this home fixture against mid-table Osasuna must be maximally used. The home side entered the World Cup break on the back of a pair of home victories against Villarreal and Valladolid, both with clean sheets, making a solid case for another three points.
Possible Athletic Bilbao starting line-up
Unai Simón, Óscar de Marcos, Daniel Vivian, Yeray Álvarez, Yuri Berchiche, Dani García, Mikel Vesga, Iñaki Williams, Oihan Sancet, Nico Williams, Gorka Guruzeta.
Injured: None
Doubtful: Inigo Martínez, Ander Capa
Suspended: None
Osasuna
Osasuna will look to avoid a third straight defeat in the league when they face Athletic Bilbao on Monday.
The visitors entered the World Cup break with a 2-1 loss to Barcelona before resuming league action with another 2-0 defeat to Real Sociedad. They followed that loss up with another poor display, needing extra time to win lowly Gimnastic in the Copa del Rey.
Although Osasuna come into this tie sitting in ninth position, they are close to the top four. Should they win here, they would be one point ahead of their hosts at the end of this round and potentially as high as fifth place.
Manager Jagoba Arrasate would be the first to admit thoughts of the top four would be premature right now, but he will be hoping that his side’s fortunes change, starting from this game.
But to win here, he must find a new way to inspire his team, especially as Osasuna has one of La Liga’s poorer records as away outsiders this season (W1, D2, L3).
Possible Osasuna starting line-up
Aitor Fernandez, Ruben Peña, Aridane Hernández, David García, Juan Cruz, Manu Sanchez, Jon Moncayola, Lucas Torró, Moi Gómez, Aimar Oroz Huarte, Ezequiel Ávila.
Injured: Nacho Vidal
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Unai Garcia
Odds
Prediction
Bilbao 2-1 Osasuna
