Athletic Bilbao Aiming to Extend Unbeaten Run

The weekends La Liga action starts on Friday night with a match between Athletic Bilbao and Eibar at the New San Mames.

Athletic Bilbao start this match in 12th place in La Liga and have 26 points from 20 games played. This leaves them 10 points clear of the relegation zone and 6 points adrift of the final Europa League qualifying place, which is 6th and currently occupied by Sevilla.

Eibar continue to punch above their weight in La Liga and start this match in 8th place, four places and 2 points better off than their hosts.

Therefore, a win in this match would send Athletic Bilbao above their opponents in the league table and trends show they are unbeaten in their last nine matches in La Liga.  However, many of those games have ended in draws and Athletic Bilbao have drawn six and won three of the nine matches during their unbeaten run.

They have drawn each of their last two matches with a point coming at Espanyol in a 1-1 draw and in a home 2-2 draw with Getafe.

At home, Athletic Bilbao have a good record and have lost only three of their last twenty home La Liga games.  They have remained undefeated in their last four league matches at home but much like their overall form, Athletic Bilbao have drawn three of those games.

Their defence has been in good shape and trends show Athletic Bilbao have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three home games.

Eibar travel to Bilbao having been held to a 1-1 draw by Malaga at home in their previous match which was a disappointing result considering the fact Malaga are bottom of the league.

Trends show Eibar, much like their hosts, have been difficult to beat in recent league games and they have lost just one of their last nine La Liga matches.  The loss came in a recent home match against Atletico Madrid, a game which ended 1-0 to the visitors.

Away from home in La Liga, Eibar have been in good form recently, picking up wins at Deportivo Alaves and Las Palmas, plus a point in a 0-0 draw at Getafe.  However, a look back over a longer period shows they have struggled away from home, winning only three of their last thirteen league games on the road.

Team news and Athletic Bilbao are still without Iker Muniain and Mikel Balenziaga, with the latter expected to make a return in February.  Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and defender Oscar de Marcos are rated as doubtful while centre-back Aymeric Laporte is being linked with a move to Manchester City.

Eibar have a lengthy injury list with Fran Rico, Pedro Leon, Yoel Rodriguez, Sergi Enrich, David Junca and Paulo Oliveira all expected to miss the match for the away team.

Both teams have been tough to beat in La Liga recently and a draw seems like the logical conclusion.  However, Athletic Bilbao have won the last two meetings at home against Eibar scoring 8 goals in the process and could take maximum points.