Athletic Bilbao will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga when they continue their campaign away to Mallorca on Sunday afternoon.
The Lions have picked up six points from their opening three matches of the new season to sit fifth in the table, while Mallorca are currently down in 17th, boasting just one point from their first three games.
Match preview
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Mallorca enjoyed an excellent 2022-23 campaign, finishing ninth in Spain's top flight, with the club comfortably securing a third straight season at this level of football.
The Pirates will again have their eyes on a top-half finish this term, but an underwhelming start to the season has seen them pick up just one point from their first three matches, which came on the opening weekend of the new campaign away to Las Palmas.
Since then, Javier Aguirre's side have lost to Villarreal and Granada, with a total of one point leaving them down in 17th, and they will not want to be in the relegation zone heading into the international break, even though there is still a lot of football to be played this season.
Mallorca are unbeaten in their last three games against Athletic, with both matches between the two sides last season being drawn, including a 0-0 in the corresponding fixture.
Los Bermellones have not lost at home to the Basque side since December 2012, meanwhile, which should leave them in a confident mood heading into Sunday's contest.
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Athletic were outplayed by Real Madrid on the opening weekend of the new season, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Carlo Ancelotti's side, who were inspired by an impressive Jude Bellingham.
The response from the Basque outfit has been excellent, though, winning 2-0 at Osasuna on August 19 before recording a 4-2 success at home to Real Betis last time out.
Ernesto Valverde's side actually fell two goals behind against Real Betis last Sunday, with Willian Jose and Isco on the scoresheet, but Athletic went on to score four times without reply to secure all three points.
Athletic's six points have left them in fifth position in the table, and they will certainly be expecting to finish in the top half of the division once again this term.
The Lions have been eighth in the last two seasons, but they were fourth, seventh, fifth and seventh between 2014 and 2017, and a push for a European position in 2023-24 cannot be ruled out.
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Team News
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Mallorca only have one confirmed absentee at this stage of proceedings, with Antonio Raillo remaining on the sidelines due to an ankle problem.
Head coach Aguirre is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack, with the majority of the players who started the 3-2 defeat to Granada last time out expected to keep their spots.
However, there could be a spot in the side for Samu Costa, who netted off the bench last time out, while Cyle Larin is also another attacking option when it comes to potential alterations here.
Athletic will be without the services of Oscar de Marcos once again due to an ankle problem; Peru Nolaskoain and Yeray Alvarez have also been ruled out of this match.
Oihan Sancet has served the suspension that ruled him out of the game with Real Betis, though, and he could come into the starting side, potentially in place of Iker Muniain.
Gorka Guruzeta's performance against Real Betis should see him retain his spot at centre-forward, with Inaki Williams and Nico Williams operating in the wide areas for the Basque outfit.
Mallorca possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Maffeo, Gonzalez, Valjent, Copete, Lato; Costa, Mascarell, Darder; Prats, Muriqi
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; Lekue, Vivian, Paredes, Garcia de Albeniz; Vesga, Ruiz de Galarreta; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Guruzeta
We say: Mallorca 2-2 Athletic Bilbao
We can see goals in this match, with both teams boasting a lot of talent in the final third of the field. A case can be made for either side to win it, but we have a feeling that the points will be shared on Sunday, which would not be the worst result in the world for either outfit.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
