Athletic Bilbao will be aiming to stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to six matches when they head to Real Valladolid in Spain's top flight on Sunday evening.
The Lions are currently sixth in the La Liga table, boasting 19 points from their first 12 matches of the season, while Real Valladolid are 19th, having picked up only eight points from their opening 12 games of 2024-25.
Match preview
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Real Valladolid have collected eight points from their 12 La Liga matches this season courtesy of a record of two wins, two draws and eight defeats, with that total leaving them in 19th spot in the table.
Goals have been an issue this season, only finding the back of the net on nine occasions, while they have the worst defensive record in La Liga this term, conceding 24 times, which will be a concern at this stage of the campaign.
Paulo Pezzolano's side will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 loss to Osasuna, and they have now been beaten in five of their last six league games, including their last two against Villarreal and Osasuna.
The White and Violets did win twice towards the end of October, overcoming Alaves in La Liga and Astur in the Copa del Rey, and they certainly have the quality to cause Athletic problems in this contest.
That said, Real Valladolid have lost their last three league matches in front of their own supporters, and they will be welcoming an Athletic team that have only been beaten on one occasion in any competition since the end of August.
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Athletic were in Europa League action on Thursday night, recording a 2-1 victory over Ludogorets, with the result leaving them in sixth spot in the overall table, boasting 10 points from four matches.
Ernesto Valverde's side have also made a solid start to their 2024-25 La Liga campaign, boasting a record of five wins, four draws and three defeats from 12 matches to collect 19 points, which has left them in sixth position.
The Lions are only four points behind third-placed Atletico Madrid and just five from Real Madrid in second, but they have only actually managed to win one of their last five league games, which came at home to Espanyol on October 19.
The Basque outfit have drawn with Mallorca and Real Betis in their last two games, and they have a mixed record on their travels this term, winning two, drawing one and losing two of their five away fixtures.
Athletic won both La Liga matches between these two sides during the 2022-23 campaign, but Valladolid did beat the Basque team 2-1 when the pair locked horns at Estadio Jose Zorrilla in November 2020.
Team News
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Real Valladolid will be missing three players through injury on Sunday, with Juanmi Latasa, Cesar de la Hoz and Cenk Ozkacar unavailable for selection.
Head coach Pezzolano is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack following the defeat at Osasuna, and it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field here.
Mario Martin should retain his spot in the middle of the midfield, while Raul Moro is a certainty down the left.
As for Athletic, Mikel Jauregizar, Gorka Guruzeta and Unai Simon will miss the match through injury,
Head coach Valverde is unlikely to make many changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Ludogorets in the Europa League despite the relatively quick turnaround.
Alvaro Djalo should benefit from Guruzeta's absence to continue through the middle for the Basque team, while Inaki Williams and Nico Williams will feature in the wide areas, but there could be a recall for Oscar de Marcos at right-back.
Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Hein; Perez, Sanchez, Torres, Rosa; Martin, Comert; Tuhami, Amallah, Moro; Sylla
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Vivian, Paredes, Yuri; Ruiz de Galarreta, Prados; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Djalo
We say: Real Valladolid 0-2 Athletic Bilbao
Real Valladolid will certainly be the fresher of the two teams heading into this contest, and they are capable of making it difficult for Athletic. The Lions can call upon the greater quality all across the field, though, and we are backing the visitors to win this one relatively comfortably ahead of the November international break.
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