H2H: Villarreal vs. Athletic Bilbao – Prediction (La Liga

Preview and Teams Comparison.

Villarreal have only lost one of their last 14 LaLiga home games against Athletic Club (W10 D3 L1) – 1-3 in April 2018 – scoring at least once in each of those matches (31 goals in total).

Villarreal kick-off unbeaten both at home (W3, D2) and as a favourite (W4, D2) in league football this season. However, all five of their victories overall have come against clubs placed 13th or lower after the midweek round, while both of Villarreal’s home draws this season saw them concede an equaliser after the 75th minute mark. Villarreal’s Karl Toko Ekambi scored in both H2Hs last season, and has netted in three of his last five LL appearances (including two doubles). The home fans in attendance have a historical reason to doubt their heroes too. The host side on the day has failed to win the last four H2H meetings (D2, L2), with the visiting team in question holding a 1-0 half-time lead in three of that quartet.

Four of the last five H2H meetings has seen both teams score. Bilbao have failed to record an equalising goal this LL season. Referee Santiago Jaime Latre has awarded a staggering 31 yellow cards in just five LL assignments this season.

The hosts face an Athletic Bilbao side that is still winless on the road (D3, L2) after managing to win just 15.38% of LL fixtures as an away outsider last season (W2, D4, L7). Bilbao have now opened the scoring in seven of their 11 LL games, but conceded equalising goals within several minutes on both occasions they did so on the road (P2, D2). Bilbao’s leading goalscorer, Raúl García, has netted the team’s only two away goals this LL season. Uniquely modest, Bilbao’s five away games have seen just seven goals scored (GF 2, GA 5) with none in the final 15 minutes (plus stoppage time) of either half. However, the visitors’ midweek win over Espanyol (3-0) broke a run of ten consecutive league games involving Bilbao with two or fewer total goals.