H2H: Osasuna vs Athletic Bilbao – Prediction (La Liga

Preview and Teams Comparison.

Athletic have won in four of their last five LaLiga trips to Pamplona (L1), as many wins as in their previous 17 away games against the Reds in the top-flight (W4 D7 L6).

A fourth consecutive home loss to Athletic Bilbao would be a rude shock for Osasuna, who are currently enjoying an admirable unbeaten run at home in La Liga (LL) this season. Three straight home wins have catapulted them to their best 13-week start to a campaign this decade.

The goals have been piled on in the process, with Osasuna’s goal tally improved upon in each of those three home victories. This ensured that they were able to win the last two by 2+ goals, despite failing to keep a clean sheet in either match. Rubén García has scored in four of his last six starts for Osasuna, including the last two at home, with three coming after half-time.

Bilbao’s 23 yellow cards collected was the second-fewest of any 2019/20 LL team after week 13. After the end of LL week 13, Bilbao were one of just two clubs to have not seen over 2.5 total goals in any LL away match this season. Referee José María Sánchez Martínez has averaged 5.83 yellow cards per-LL game so far.

Notably, the first two of the aforementioned trio of home victories came in spite of conceding the opening goal of the game, which ought to be a concern for opposition Athletic Bilbao, whose only two openers on the road have both led to equalisers being conceded within several minutes. Both matches in question ended level.

Bilbao have been held scoreless in four of their six winless (D4, L2) LL fixtures away from home. As the only team in the division yet to score after the 60th minute on the road, they have shown a very troubling inability to close out fixtures played on hostile turf. Raúl García is Bilbao’s only LL goalscorer on the road, and also found the back of the net in a 2016/17 meeting with Osasuna.