Athletic Bilbao Bid to Continue Rise at Villarreal

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Following the mid-week Copa del Rey action, La Liga returns on the weekend in Spain and we have several matches to enjoy on Sunday.  The second game to be played is between Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao at the Estadio de la Cerámica.

Villarreal find themselves in a relegation battle this season and they begin the weekend in 19th place. Even a win would not be good enough to lift them out of the relegation zone but they could move to within 1 point of safety.

Athletic Bilbao are in 15th place and although they are not fully clear of the relegation zone a win for them could move the club into the top half of La Liga as things are so tight.

Villarreal come into this match in poor form and trends show they have failed to win any of their last six games in all competitions.  There has been a draw and defeat in the Copa Del Rey plus three draws and a defeat in La Liga.

You must go back to the home Europa League match against Spartak Moscow to find the last time Villarreal won a game.  La Liga form has plenty of room for improvement and Villarreal have won just one of their last thirteen games and it is little wonder they are in the relegation zone.

The Yellow Submarine have won one of their last eleven league games on home soil and both teams have scored in each of their last six.

Athletic Bilbao have been moving in the opposite direction to their hosts and have lost just one of their last eight games in all competitions. There have been wins over Huesca and Sevilla in the Copa del Rey plus victories against Girona, Celta Vigo and Sevilla in La Liga, the latter of which was an excellent result.

Away form has shown some promising signs as they have won three and drawn one of their last four away games in all competitions.  However, trends show Athletic Bilbao have won just four of their last twenty-seven away La Liga matches so there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Trends show both teams have scored in ten of their last thirteen away La Liga games and Athletic Bilbao have picked up a point in ten of their last eighteen league matches.

Team news and Villarreal are without the injured Bruno Soriano and Manuel Morlanes.  New signing Vicente Iborra is expected to start in midfield with Gerard Moreno leading the line in attack.

Athletic Bilbao are without Mikel Rico and Inigo Lekue due to injury plus Raul Garcia and Aritz Aduriz are rated as doubtful.  Ibai Gomez has returned to the club but may have to settle for a place on the substitutes bench.

Both teams have been involved in open games recently and we should see both teams score.  However, picking a winner is tough and given their recent form we could see the game end level.