Osasuna vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction & Betting Tips - LaLiga

Prediction published on 01/01/2022, 12:12  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 01/01/2022 at 13:12 in LaLiga Predictions

Osasuna began the new year 13th in La Liga and host Athletic Bilbao who are two places above them. They are only two points behind their opponents but do have a game in hand. 13th place is seven points behind the final Europa Conference League position but Osasuna haven't won a match in La Liga since late October. They have gone nine league games without a victory, though five have ended in a draw. Home form has seen them win just once in La Liga this season but five out of nine, including three of the last four have ended level. Their most recent match was a 1-0 loss at Getafe who were in the bottom three at the time. Scoring is a problem that has Osasuna have to resolve in 2022. Only seven home league goals have been scored this season. Two of those came in their last home league fixture as they twice came from behind to draw with Barcelona.

Athletic Bilbao won't forget 2021 in a hurry. It's not often you lose two Copa del Rey finals in the same month but that's what they did last year. They are 11th in La Liga, five points adrift of sixth place but from a game more. They'd be in the top six but for drawing nine league games already this season. Bilbao need to turn their form around if wanting European football next season. Only one of their last ten games in La Liga has been won, a 3-2 home victory over Real Betis. That was a struggle too as they came from 2-1 behind with 18 minutes remaining. Their most recent league game was a 2-1 home loss to leaders Real Madrid. Not a bad result after seeing Benzema score twice in the first seven minutes. Away form in La Liga is poor and has been for a fair while. The last 26 away league games has produced just three wins. This season they have ten points from nine games with seven of them ending in a draw. Just eight goals have been scored in those nine games, four scored and four conceded. Go for this game to end in a draw, have a side bet on that result and with under 2.5 goals scored.