Athletic Bilbao vs Sevilla Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Athletic Club were excellent to watch last season but there are a few things to work on as they now welcome a possible struggler, Sevilla, to the San Mames on opening day.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Athletic Bilbao vs Sevilla may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Athletic Bilbao preview: Basque brilliance
Athletic Club humiliated themselves in the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League last season, with their defeat to Manchester United, denying them the opportunity to play in a European final at their home ground of San Mames.
They remained strong, though, and finished fourth to ensure UEFA Champions League qualification with former Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde at the helm, and they have managed to keep hold of Barcelona-linked Nico Williams for the next few seasons.
Sevilla preview: Sevilla likely to struggle
Sevilla have been circling the drain for quite a while now in La Liga, with the Andalusians having had three different permanent managers in two of the last three seasons to eventually scramble their way away from the bottom three and the relegation places.
They have now appointed yet another new boss, with former AEK Athens boss Matias Almeyda having come in at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. However, they do appear once again to be likely to be underperforming in the bottom-half of the table.
Athletic Bilbao team news: A few issues
Nico Williams has remained but Athletic still have a few issues to deal with as Oihan Sancet, amid off-field antics, is out injured, with Yeray Alvarez missing through suspension.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Unai Simon; Jesus Areso, Dani Vivian, Inigo Lekue, Yuri Berchiche; Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Mikel Jauregizar; Inaki Williams, Unai Gomez, Nico Williams; Maroan Sannadi
Unavailable: Unai Egiluz (Injured), Yeray (Suspended), Benat Prados (Injured), Oihan Sancet (Injured)
Questionable: Aitor Paredes (Injured), Unai Gomez (Injured)
Sevilla team news: Several doubts
Key centre-back Loic Bade is now set to sign for Bayer Leverkusen as he deals with an apparent calf injury. A few other doubts include Tanguy Nianzou and Joan Jordan.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Nyland; Jose Angel Carmona, Gudelj, Kike Salas, Adria Pedrosa; Agoume, Sow; Lukebakio, Adams, Vargas; Isaac Romero
Unavailable:
Questionable: Bade (Injured), Ramon Martinez (Injured), Nianzou (Injured), Joan Jordan (Injured), Ejuke (Injured), Isaac Romero (Injured)
Athletic Bilbao vs Sevilla prediction
Sevilla have been circling the drain in La Liga for a while and their off-field issues don’t appear to have yet gone away, so another struggle but perhaps one that finally sees them fall down a division could be in store this season. Athletic have their own things to deal with to ensure they don’t stagnate this year, but even with that they remain favourites on the opening day of the campaign in the Basque Country.
Athletic Bilbao vs Sevilla tip: Athletic Bilbao to win
