Athletic Bilbao vs Alavés Prediction & Betting Tips - LaLiga

Prediction published on 16/03/2024, 07:21  by Sridhar in LaLiga Predictions

It’s time for the Basque derby this weekend as Athletic Club welcomes Deportivo Alaves. This will be matchday 29 in La Liga and is set to be played at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao on Saturday. The hosts are fifth in the standings after 28 matches with 53 points, while the visitors are 13th with 32 points. Athletic are only two points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid after a 2-0 win over Las Palmas last time and have a chance to get into the Champions League qualification spots temporarily. With Atletico having had to play penalties on Wednesday in the Champions League, they could be stretched physically in their match against Barcelona later in the week. This gives the hosts an opportunity to make the most of this matchday and get into the top four. Their record at this venue helps, as Athletic have won seven of their last eight home matches in La Liga.

Alaves are four points behind tenth-placed Osasuna, and a win here could get them closer to the top half. They defeated Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the last round, which was their only win in six league games. That sequence saw them draw three matches, so it wasn’t all bad news for the visitors. They can be a handful on their day, as Sevilla found out in January, but Alaves have struggled on the road in recent times. They have failed to score in their last two away league matches, drawing 0-0 against Real Betis and losing 1-0 against Osasuna. It doesn’t help matters that they haven’t scored in four consecutive league matches against their derby rivals, including a 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture.