Real Oviedo vs Athletic Bilbao Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Real Oviedo are showing some fight down at the bottom of La Liga and they now welcome a struggling Athletic side to Estadio Carlos Tartiere.
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 any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / US – ESPN+
Real Oviedo preview: Fighting Oviedo
Following the appointment of Uruguayan coach Guillermo Almada, Real Oviedo have improved quite a lot and they will believe they have given themselves a fighting chance of avoiding the drop this season.
However, they will be immensely frustrated by the fact that their game against fellow strugglers Rayo Vallecano was postponed last week due to Rayo’s newly laid pitch being deemed unplayable, sparking suggestions of a conspiracy.
Athletic Bilbao preview: Growing Pressure in Bilbao
Athletic Club head into the weekend in a bit of a precarious position not yet fully assured of La Liga status for next season despite being one of just four clubs to have never been relegated from the topflight.
That record is still expected to stay intact but there is pressure growing on them with a slow start to the season bleeding into something that appears much more damaging and lacking mitigation.
Real Oviedo team news: Couple of defensive issues
Oviedo are dealing with a couple of defensive issues for the visit of Athletic as left-back Rahim Alhassane is a doubt for this one, while David Costas is a confirmed absentee.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Aaron; Nacho Vidal, Dani Calvo, Carmo, Javi Lopez; Sibo, Colombatto; Hassan, Alberto Reina, Ilyas Chaira; Fede Vinas
Unavailable: David Costas (Injured)
Questionable: Alhassane (Injured), Ejaria (Ineligible)
Athletic Bilbao team news: A few injuries
Athletic Club remain without first-choice attacking midfielder Oihan Sancet and they have plenty of other issues, too, with Dani Vivian and Yuri Berchiche both being doubtful.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Unai Simon; Andoni Gorosabel, Aitor Paredes, Laporte, Boiro; Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Mikel Jauregizar; Inaki Williams, Alejandro Rego, Nico Williams; Gorka Guruzeta
Unavailable: Unai Egiluz (Injured), Benat Prados (Injured), Oihan Sancet (Injured), Maroan Sannadi (Injured)
Questionable: Dani Vivian (Injured), Yuri Berchiche (Injured), Alex Berenguer (Injured)
Real Oviedo vs Athletic Bilbao prediction
By rights, Oviedo should be fresh for this weekend but even with that in mind, they are often still one of the least proactive teams in La Liga. Though Athletic did managed a thrilling 4-2 win over struggling Levante last week they showed perhaps their real selves in a 1-0 loss to arch-rivals Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey in mid-week. Neither side can be trusted to be too fun to watch, and a low scoring encounter is to be expected.
Real Oviedo vs Athletic Bilbao tip: Under 2.5 goals
