Leganés vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction & Betting Tips - LaLiga

Prediction published on 21/04/2019, 03:09  by Donal Kearns | Modified on 23/04/2019 at 07:10 in LaLiga Predictions

This Wednesday’s clash at Butarque is a bigger one for the visitors than the hosts. Athletic Bilbao now appear to be in a race with Alaves and Betis for 7th place, which will almost certainly mean Europa League football unless cup finalists Valencia have a total collapse. Leganes meanwhile look destined for a mid-table finish, a fine achievement for Mauricio Pellegrino’s side. Leganes have never finished higher than 17th in La Liga and they’ll be hoping to keep up their decent form until the end of the campaign. They were beaten at the weekend away to Villarreal but had gone 4 games unbeaten prior to that to effectively guarantee their safety. They held Real Madrid at Butarque during that run and they are sure to provide a stern test for Athletic Bilbao here. The Athletic Bilbao were beaten by Los Blancos at the weekend, going down 3-0 at the Bernabeu. They had won 4 of their previous 5 matches though so they still take pretty good overall form into this one. They look the side most likely to clinch 7th now but that position does mean a very early start in the Europa League. This game looks unlikely to produce many goals and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if it ended up all square. Leganes are pretty cautious, even at home, usually operating with what is basically a back five. Athletic Bilbao aren’t blessed with an enormous amount of creativity and forward Inaki Williams is unlikely to be allowed much space to run into and make use of his lightning pace. Athletic though have been very solid at the back on the whole since the change in coach and will fancy they can handle Leganes’ direct game relatively well. They’ve drawn 39% of their league fixtures this term with more of their matches ending level than they’ve won or lost.