Estadio Gran Canaria will play host to an intriguing La Liga affair on Sunday afternoon, as Las Palmas welcome Athletic Bilbao, with both teams chasing European finishes this term.
The hosts currently sit eighth in the La Liga table, five points behind sixth-placed Real Betis, while Athletic occupy fifth, five points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.
Match preview
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Having secured a return to La Liga by finishing second in the Segunda Division last season, not too much was expected of Las Palmas this term, but Los Amarillos are enjoying an excellent campaign.
Garcia Pimienta's side have not finished higher than 11th in Spain's top flight since the 1978-19 campaign, which is a further indication of the impressiveness of their season, with the team currently sitting up in eighth position in the table, collecting 37 points from their 27 league matches in 2023-24.
Las Palmas are only five points behind sixth-placed Real Betis, and they have only lost one of their last five in the league, which proved to be a 5-0 defeat at Atletico on February 17.
Pio Pio are without a win in the league since beating Valencia 2-0 on February 10, though, drawing their last two in Spain's top flight against Osasuna and Getafe.
Las Palmas beat Athletic 1-0 in the corresponding match between the two sides during the 2017-18 campaign, but they suffered a 1-0 defeat when the teams locked horns at San Mames earlier this season.
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Athletic will face Mallorca in the Copa del Rey final at the start of April, but the Lions have three league games before then, taking on Las Palmas, Alaves and Real Madrid before the end of the month.
Ernesto Valverde's side have only actually managed to win one of their last four in the league, which was a 3-2 home success over Girona on February 19, losing to Real Betis and drawing with Barcelona since then.
Athletic played out a goalless draw with Barcelona at San Mames last weekend, and their home form this season has been excellent, picking up 33 points from 14 matches, but they have been inconsistent on their travels, securing 17 points from 13 games away from San Mames.
Las Palmas have been relatively solid at home, collecting 22 points from 13 matches, while they have only conceded 10 times in front of their own supporters this season, so this certainly has the potential to be a very difficult match for the Basque outfit.
Athletic are chasing their first top-four finish in La Liga since the 2013-14 campaign, and they currently sit fifth in the table, five points behind fourth-placed Atletico on the same number of matches (27).
Team News
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Las Palmas will again be without the services of Cristian Herrera and Eric Curbelo for this weekend's contest through injury, but the squad will be boosted by the return of Alex Suarez following a suspension.
Suarez is set to return at right-back for the hosts, but it might otherwise be the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Getafe last time out.
Munir El Haddadi and Sandro Ramirez both scored in the team's last match and should continue in the final third of the field, while Alberto Moleiro is expected to retain his spot down the left.
As for Athletic, Ander Herrera and Yuri Berchiche are still out through injury, but the squad will be boosted by the returns of both Nico Williams and Dani Vivian, who were suspended against Barcelona.
There will be changes from the side that started against the reigning champions, with both Nico Williams and Vivian set to return to the XI, while Oscar de Marcos is likely to be brought back in at right-back.
Oihan Sancet is also pushing to return to the number 10 position, while Valverde has a decision to make in midfield as Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta dropped down to the bench for the clash with Xavi's side.
Las Palmas possible starting lineup:
Valles; Suarez, Coco, Marmol, S Cardona; El Haddadi, Munoz, Perrone, K Rodriguez, Moleiro; Sandro
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; De Marcos, Vivian, Yeray, Garcia de Albeniz; D Garcia, Vesga; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Guruzeta
We say: Las Palmas 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
There have only been two goals in the last three La Liga meetings between these two sides, and we are expecting another tight match on Sunday. Athletic need to win to stay in the top-four race, but Las Palmas have been so impressive this season, and we are expecting the hosts to be good enough for a point.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
