MX23RW : Sunday, September 13 11:09:34| >> :120:43101:43101:
Jul 9, 2020 at 9pm UK at San Mames
Athletic BilbaoAthletic Bilbao
1-2
SevillaSevilla
Capa (28')
Nunez (31'), de Marcos (68'), Garcia (90+3')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Banega (69'), El Haddadi (74')
Banega (44'), Ocampos (65')

Preview: Athletic Bilbao vs. Sevilla - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's La Liga clash between Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla, including team news and predicted lineups.

Athletic Bilbao will be looking to return to winning ways and keep their top-six hopes alive when they welcome Sevilla to San Mames on Thursday evening.

Gaizka Garitano's side fell 1-0 to Real Madrid at the weekend and are five points off a European spot, while Sevilla are well on their way to sealing a top-four finish.


Match preview

Sevilla's Lucas Ocampos celebrates opening the scoring against Real Betis on June 11, 2020© Reuters

After missing out on a place in Europe in back-to-back seasons, it looks as though continental football will again be absent from San Mames in 2020-21.

Saturday's loss to league leaders Madrid - Sergio Ramos's 73rd-minute penalty proving the difference in that one - leaves the Basque outfit down in eighth place.

There is a six-point buffer on Getafe in the final Europa League qualifying spot and only four games left to play, including this tough test against high-flying Sevilla.

Los Nervionense have seen off Leganes and Eibar in their last two matches without conceding to tighten their grip on fourth place.

Going further back, it is 11 league matches without defeat for Sevilla and they are also through to the last 16 of the Europa League.

Athletic Bilbao's Inaki Williams celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on February 6, 2020© Reuters

The immediate aim for Julen Lopetegui will be nailing down fourth, with the gap on Villarreal standing at six points.

Atletico Madrid have been in good form since the restart and are now two points ahead of Sevilla, but Lopetegui will no doubt be looking up the table rather than down.

Sevilla are out to make it six away league matches without defeat, which is something that they last achieved in 2015 when Unai Emery was in charge.

However, they have lost their last nine trips to San Mames and have failed to score in five of those matches, making them Athletic's favourite opponents.

Should that losing run continue in midweek, and Villarreal come away with all three points against Getafe, then it may yet be a tense final week or so to the season for Sevilla.

Athletic Bilbao's La Liga form: DWLWWL

Sevilla's La Liga form: DDDDWW


Team News

Sevilla's Lucas Ocampos pictured in February 2020© Reuters

Raul Garcia picked up another booking against Madrid at the weekend and will therefore serve an automatic suspension.

Oscar de Marcos is the most likely option to come into midfield alongside Unai Lopez, with Inaki Williams spearheading the attack.

The hosts will also be without Yeray Alvarez after he limped off last time out, so Inigo Martinez is likely to be partnered by Unai Nunez at centre-back.

As for Sevilla, goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik is in a race to be fit after injuring his knee against Eibar, meaning that Yassine Bounou may come in for just a second league start of the season.

Lopetegui is expected to go with Munir El-Haddadi on the left of his front three - the Spanish forward has scored three goals in his last five league meetings with Athletic, all for different teams.

Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; Capa, Nunez, Martinez, Yuri; Garcia, Lopez; Marcos, Muniain, Cordoba; William

Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Vaclik; Navas, Kounde, Carlos, Escudero; Jordan, Fernando, Banega; Ocampos, De Jong, Munir


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Sevilla

Athletic have a pretty incredible home record against Sevilla, winning nine in a row at San Mames. That kind of statistic cannot be looked past, so we are going with a narrow victory for Garitano's charges.


ID:405522:

Who will win Thursday's La Liga clash between Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla?

Athletic Bilbao
Draw
Sevilla
Athletic Bilbao
39.6%
Draw
18.9%
Sevilla
41.4%
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Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui pictured in February 2020
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Granada11002023
2Osasuna11002023
3Celta Vigo10100001
4EibarEibar10100001
5AlavesAlaves00000000
6Atletico MadridAtletico00000000
7Barcelona00000000
8ElcheElche00000000
9Getafe00000000
10Huesca00000000
11Levante00000000
12Real Betis00000000
13Real Madrid00000000
14Real Sociedad00000000
15Real Valladolid00000000
16Sevilla00000000
17Valencia00000000
18Villarreal00000000
19Athletic Bilbao100102-20
20Cadiz100102-20

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