Athletic Bilbao will look to maintain their unbeaten start to their Europa League campaign when they welcome Elfsborg to San Mames on Thursday.
The hosts are sitting in sixth position at the halfway point of the league phase, while the visitors are in 24th spot after the first four matchdays.
Match preview
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Competing in Europe for the first time since 2017-18, Athletic will be dreaming of going all the way in this season's Europa League, with May's final set to take place at their iconic San Mames home.
Athletic have made a positive start to their bid to win a European trophy at their own stadium, having taken 10 points from their opening four games.
After starting with a 1-1 draw against Roma, Los Leones have gone on to record victories over AZ Alkmaar, Slavia Prague and Ludogorets to leave them inside the top eight and just two points adrift of leaders Lazio.
Los Leones will carry significant momentum into matchday five after they extended their unbeaten run to seven competitive matches with a narrow 1-0 victory over Basque rivals Real Sociedad at the weekend, with Oihan Sancet's first-half effort proving enough to ensure that Athletic finished the weekend in fifth place and two points adrift of the top four.
Athletic continue to use San Mames as a fortress, having lost just one of their last 31 competitive home matches in all competitions.
![Elfsborg manager Oscar Hiljemark during the Allsvenskan football match between Elfsborg and IFK Göteborg on August 25, 2024 [on August 27, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/35/oscar-hiljemark.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Elfsborg manager Oscar Hiljemark during the Allsvenskan football match between Elfsborg and IFK Göteborg on August 25, 2024 [on August 27, 2024]")
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Elfsborg are sitting just inside the top 24 after winning one, drawing one and losing two of their four matches in the inaugural league phase.
The Swedish side fell to narrow away defeats to AZ Alkmaar and Galatasaray either side of a 1-0 home win over Roma, before they rescued a point in their most recent European outing against Braga.
Emil Holten scored an 84th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw in Sweden, helping his side put together a four-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
After wrapping up their league campaign with a goalless draw against Varnamo, Elfsborg now have the tough task of remaining fit and sharp for their next four Europa League fixtures as they look to progress from a European group stage/league phase for the first time.
If Elfsborg are to trouble a strong Athletic side, they will have to improve in the defensive third after conceding seven goals across their previous two Europa League games.
Team News
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Athletic boss Ernesto Valverde should have a full squad to choose from as long as there are no fresh injury concerns following Sunday's derby win.
Goalkeeper Unai Simon made his return to the matchday squad at the weekend following a long injury layoff, but after being on the bench against Real Sociedad, the Spain international could now be given the chance to make his first appearance of the season.
Valverde could be tempted to freshen up his outfield contingent, with Andoni Gorosabel, Aitor Paredes, Alex Berenguer and Gorka Guruzeta all pushing for starting berths.
As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon experienced forward Per Frick, who has missed the last five competitive matches due to injury.
Elfsborg boss Oscar Hiljemark is likely to line up with a back three featuring Sebastian Holmen, Ibrahim Buhari and Terry Yegbe.
Michael Baidoo is expected to spearhead the Elfsborg attacker, with the striker looking to add to the five goals that he has scored in eight European appearances this season.
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; Gorosabel, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Prados; I. Williams, Berenguer, N. Williams; Guruzeta
Elfsborg possible starting lineup:
Pettersson; Holmen, Buhari, Yegbe; Hedlund, Ouma, Baldursson, Hult; Zeneli, Qasem, Baidoo
We say: Athletic Bilbao 3-1 Elfsborg
Elfsborg have failed to take anything from their previous two European away games, and we think that they could fall to another away defeat when they go up against an Athletic side that have won four of their previous five home matches in all competitions.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
