LaLiga – Athletic Bilbao – Villarreal on Match-day 12

Athletic Bilbao at home against Villarreal – Sunday – 6:30pm GMT – San Mames Stadium.

Sunday’s clash between Athletic Bilbao and Villarreal, sees sixth take on seventh in the League.

Athletic Bilbao face his opponents with equal points, with both keen to make progress

Athletic Bilbao will be keen to retain their winning form, having beaten Barcelona 4-0 in their last fixture.

Also, Athletic Bilbao keep finding ways to win, having secured five victories in their last 10 fixtures is astonishing this season. Their position is sixth in the League and they have 18 points, that is, 5W, 3L and 3D having won five meetings, drawn three matches, and lost three games.

When Athletic Bilbao host Villarreal, they will do so on the back of three wins, one dart, and two losse on their own ground.

A victory for Athletic Bilbao would put them on 21 points.

Good Attacking Performance

This has been a good season so far for Athletic Bilbao, in terms of goals scored (19). This season, their stand-out attacking players have been Inaki Williams (4), Alex Berenguer (3), and Oihan Sancet (3). Athletic Bilbao have conceded 12 goals.

Athletic Bilbao’s squad will likely be depleted of two of their key players when they start on Sunday, due to injury or illness.

Villarreal face their opponents, equal on points, it will likely be a thrilling encounter

With two wins in a row under his belt, Quique Setien takes his Villarreal team into this game full of confidence, and hopeful of another successive victory.

Also, Villarreal keep finding ways to win, having secured two victories in their last three meetings is astonishing this season. Now they have 5 matches won, 3 games lost and 3 duels drawn; that’s why they currently sit in seventh place, with a total of 18 points having won five games, drawn three fixtures, and lost three matches.

Villarreal’s away record is remarkable and poses a significant threat to Athletic Bilbao. In the 7 games they’ve played on the road this season, they have so far won two fixtures, drawn two meetings, and lost three matches.

Winning this fixture will see Villarreal on 21 points.

A solid defensive team

Villarreal have a solid defence, with only seven goals conceded in their previous fixtures. Despite delivering often average performance, their goal scoring stats have been good (14). Their stand out attacking players have been Alex Baena (4), Gerard Moreno (2), and Arnaut Danjuma (2).

Villarreal are no strangers this season to illness and injury and Quique Setien is concerned that Sunday’s fixture could see him without six of his key players

Athletic Bilbao v Villarreal – Head-to-Head.

Regarding their historical duels the recent form between these two sides has seen Villarreal with a greater number of wins. In the last 46 meetings, they have enjoyed 17 victories, to Athletic Bilbao’s 14 wins. Additionally, Villarreal have won all ten of the last 20 fixtures played against Athletic Bilbao. The last time both teams met in this competition was April 2022 and the score line ended up with a 1-1 draw.

Other players of note for Athletic Bilbao are Inaki Williams and Alex Berenguer with four goals each and for Villarreal are Alex Baena and Gerard Moreno with four goals both.