Elche vs Athletic Bilbao Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Elche have started the season very well as the Valencians now prepare to welcome Athletic Club, who are looking for some consistency, this weekend.
Kick-off date/time:
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Elche preview: No longer unbeaten
Elche come into this one on the back of a 3-1 defeat to Deportivo Alaves up in the Basque Country in their most recent outing after a late flurry of goals before the October international break.
Following promotion to the top-flight, Elche have been very impressive under the management of Eder Sarabia after the hosts had been unbeaten in their opening seven matches of the 2025/26 La Liga season.
Athletic Bilbao preview: Need for consistency
Coached by former Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde, Athletic Club finished fourth and qualified for the UEFA Champions League but the early signs are that they might struggle to deal with the higher level of quality and intensity when balancing things.
The visitors did manage to earn themselves a victory a couple of weeks ago as they defeated Real Mallorca by two goals to one at San Mames a couple of weeks ago, courtesy of an 82nd minute winner scored by Alejandro Rego.
Elche team news: Affengruber suspended
Key centre-back David Affengruber is missing through suspension for this one, whilst Hector Fort is out injured. They also have key doubts, such as Adria Pedrosa and Grady Diangana.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Inaki Pena; Victor Chust, Diaby, Pablo Bigas; Alvaro Nunez, Marcos Aguado, Aleix Febas, German Valera; Diangana, Alvaro, Rafa Mir
Unavailable: Affengruber (Suspended), Hector Fort (Injured)
Questionable: Adria Pedrosa (Injured), Diangana (Injured)
Athletic Bilbao team news: Attacking issues
Nico Williams has returned to full fitness but Athletic have some other key doubts in attack as Oihan Sancet, Inaki Williams and Alex Berenguer all potentially unavailable.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Unai Simon; Jesus Areso, Dani Vivian, Aitor Paredes, Yuri Berchiche; Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Mikel Jauregizar; Nico Serrano, Gorka Guruzeta, Nico Williams; Maraon Sannadi
Unavailable: Yeray (Disciplinary), Unai Egiluz (Injured), Benat Prados (Injured), Mikel Vesga (Injured)
Questionable: Oihan Sancet (Injured), Alex Berenguer (Injured), Inaki Williams (Injured)
Elche vs Athletic Bilbao prediction
Elche play a brilliant style of football with an emphasis on building up from the back. However, their performance level has been dipping and a defeat did appear around the corner before it finally arrived a couple of weeks ago. They face an Athletic side that can now counter-attack with more efficiency with Nico Williams back and so this could be quite an entertaining encounter for the neutral.
Elche vs Athletic Bilbao tip: Both teams to score
