Athletic Bilbao Aims for Fourth Consecutive La Liga Win Against Struggling Sevilla

This Sunday, Athletic Bilbao will host Sevilla at the San Mames stadium in a crucial La Liga matchup. Athletic Bilbao, currently sitting in fifth place in the league table, are on a strong run, having won their last three La Liga matches against Las Palmas, Leganes, and Celta Vigo. Following a 1-1 draw against AS Roma in their Europa League opener, Ernesto Valverde's side is looking to maintain their momentum in the domestic league.

Sevilla, on the other hand, are struggling this season, positioned 13th in the standings with just eight points from seven matches. Despite recent home victories against Getafe and Real Valladolid, Sevilla have not managed to secure a win away from home this season, highlighting their inconsistent form. The Andalusian club's last away match ended in a 2-1 loss to Deportivo Alavés, adding to their woes.

Head-to-Head and Recent Form

Athletic Bilbao have a favorable recent record against Sevilla, winning their last two encounters in La Liga with clean sheets in both matches. However, Sevilla have historically performed well against the Basque giants, winning 27 out of 56 matches between the two teams. Athletic Bilbao's home record against Sevilla has been mixed, with three losses in their last five home games against the Andalusian side.

Sevilla's away form has been particularly concerning, with the team losing each of their last five matches against Basque teams in La Liga and conceding at least two goals in each of these games. This trend does not bode well for their upcoming visit to San Mames.

Injuries and Team News

Athletic Bilbao are dealing with several injury concerns, including the potential absence of Oihan Sancet due to a muscle injury. Unai Simon and Yeray Alvarez are also recovering from more serious injuries and are unlikely to feature in the match.

Sevilla face even more significant injury issues, with key players like Saul Niguez, Isaac Romero, and Djibril Sow ruled out due to various injuries. Marcan is also unavailable due to suspension, further weakening Sevilla's lineup.

Predictions and Betting Tips

Given the current form and team dynamics, Athletic Bilbao are favored to win this match. Predictions suggest a scoreline of 2-0 or 3-1 in favor of the home team, with Nico Williams expected to play a crucial role for Athletic Bilbao. Betting tips also suggest that the game will have over 2.5 goals and that Athletic Bilbao will score first.

However, some predictions caution against expecting a high-scoring game, given the modest goal-scoring records of both teams. The total goals prediction is set at less than 2.5, with a possible final score of 1-0 in favor of Athletic Bilbao.