Athletic Bilbao vs Alaves Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Athletic Club were given a surprise week off in midweek as they now face Deportivo Alaves in a Basque Country derby at San Mames on Saturday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / USA – ESPN+
Athletic Bilbao preview: Grateful for a week off
In midweek, Athletic Club were minutes away from getting underway against Levante but the game was instead postponed as a result of heavy rainfall in Valencia, giving Edin Terzic and his Athletic side a week off without a game.
While immensely frustrating to have been ready to get underway at Estadio Ciutat de Valencia on Wednesday, former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic may well be grateful for it given the intensity of his style of football.
Alaves preview: Entertaining start
Deportivo Alaves started the season well with three victories and a draw in their opening four matches, having been much-improved following the appointment of Quique Sanchez Flores in the second half of last season.
However, the Basque outfit do now come into this one on the back of back-to-back defeats, with a 2-1 loss away at Racing Santander being backed up by a 1-0 loss at home to newly-managerless Valencia the other day.
Athletic Bilbao team news: Inaki is fit
There are some concerns over the form and performance levels of Inaki Williams but the now internationally retired Ghanaian is fit and available after a slight injury issue last week.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Unai Simon; Jesus Areso, Yeray, Laporte, Yuri Berchiche; Mikel Jauregizar, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta; Robert Navarro, Oihan Sancet, Nico Williams; Inaki Williams
Unavailable: Dani Vivian (Injured), Unai Egiluz (Injured), Peio Canales (Injured)
Questionable:
Alaves team news: Nothing fresh
As they travel from Vitoria-Gasleiz to Bilbao, Alaves have no fresh injury concerns with summer signing Mikel Rodriguez remaining sidelined due to a knee issue.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Antonio Sivera; Tenaglia, Koski, Valentini; Angel Perez, Pablo Ibanez, Antonio Blanco, Denis Suarez, Rebbach; Lucas Boye, Mariano
Unavailable: Garces (Injured), Mikel Rodriguez (Injured), Aitor Manas (Injured)
Questionable:
Athletic Bilbao vs Alaves prediction
Athletic have been fun to watch after recovering from unfortunate defeats to Sevilla and then Barcelona in their opening couple of games. While frustrated with a 1-1 draw against Elche last week, they were the better side. Alaves, though, will seek to rediscover their attacking flair from the opening few weeks of the campaign and the back end of last season so while Athletic remain favourites, it may be a decent watch for the neutral this weekend.
Athletic Bilbao vs Alaves tip: Athletic Bilbao to win & both teams to score
