After three straight goalless draws in all competitions, Athletic Bilbao will be bidding to return to winning ways when they continue their La Liga campaign with a home fixture against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday night.
Ernesto Valverde's side are currently fourth in the La Liga table, six points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal, while Rayo occupy ninth, and the capital side will enter this match off the back of a heavy home defeat to Espanyol.
Match preview
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Athletic were in Europa League action on Thursday night, playing out a goalless draw with Rangers in the first leg of their quarter-final, with the tie therefore delicately poised ahead of the return fixture at San Mames next week.
The clash in Scotland brought a third straight 0-0 for Valverde's team, with that also being the scoreline in their last two league games against Osasuna and Villarreal.
The Lions are fourth in the La Liga table, six points above fifth-placed Villarreal, but the Yellow Submarine have a game in hand, so the race for fourth, and a Champions League spot for next season, is open at this stage of proceedings.
Athletic have actually only won one of their last five in the league, drawing three times in the process, and they will be desperate to post a victory on Sunday night in order to give themselves some breathing room in fourth position.
The Lions have been impressive in front of their own fans this season, picking up 30 points from 15 matches, but Rayo have been solid on their travels, claiming 29 points from their 15 games in front of their own stadium.
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Rayo had been pushing for the top six not too long ago, but their recent struggles have seen them drop down the table into ninth, and the capital side will enter this match off the back of a shock home defeat.
Indeed, Inigo Perez's side conceded four unanswered goals against Espanyol last time out, and just one victory has arrived from their last seven league games, which has seriously dented their chances of finishing in the European spots.
Rayo have a record of 10 wins, 10 draws and 10 defeats from their 30 league matches this season, with 40 points leaving them in ninth, eight points off sixth-placed Real Betis and only one point ahead of Getafe in 11th.
Los Franjirrojos finished 17th in La Liga last season, so there was plenty of room for improvement this term, and it has been a strong campaign for the club, who will certainly have their eyes on a top-half finish.
Rayo have lost each of their last three league games against Athletic, including a 2-1 defeat in Madrid earlier this season, while it was 4-0 to the Lions when they locked horns at San Mames last term.
Team News
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Athletic will have to make a late check on the fitness of Yuri Berchiche, who has a muscular problem, but the home side are otherwise in strong shape for their clash with Rayo this weekend.
Gorka Guruzeta is expected to return in the final third of the field, having started on the bench against Rangers, while Benat Prados and Andoni Gorosabel should be back in the XI against Rayo.
Nico Williams may be in his final season with the club, as he continues to be linked with a summer exit, and the Spain international will again operate down the left on Sunday.
As for Rayo, Jonathan Montiel, Sergio Camello and Abdul Mumin will miss the match due to injury problems.
Head coach Perez is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack following the heavy home defeat to Espanyol, but there is likely to be a recall in a forward area for Isi Palazon.
Adri Embarba will also be in the thoughts of the manager when it comes to potential changes this weekend, but Randy Nteka should again be given the nod through the middle for the capital side.
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; Gorosabel, Vivian, Paredes, Yuri; Jauregizar, Prados; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Guruzeta
Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:
Batalla; Ratiu, Hernandez, Lejeune, Chavarria; U Lopez, Ciss; De Frutos, Palazon, A Garcia; Nteka
We say: Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Rayo Vallecano
Athletic have found it difficult to win matches of late, and the same can also be said for Rayo, so we are expecting a tight match in terms of the scoreline; Athletic can call upon the greater quality, though, and with home advantage, we are backing Valverde's side to put an important three points on the board.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
