With games scattered over four days, the twenty-third round of the Spanish Championship in its 2017/2018 season begins this Friday, February 9, with the clash between Athletic Bilbao and Las Palmas. At the San Mamés stadium in Bilbao, the match starts at 18h (Brasília time).
The recent performance of Athletic Bilbao
The Bilbao team had an unbeaten run of nine games (four wins and five draws) interrupted on the day of number 22. As a visitor, took 2 to 0 of Girona. This has drastically changed the landscape. As the draws were many, now Athletic have been five games in winning (four equalities and one defeat).
Analyzing the situation with positive or negative bias, the fact is that the season’s Atlhetic campaign is well below expectations. With 27 points (six wins, nine draws and seven losses), the team occupies the thirteenth place. They are six points behind sixth-placed Sevilla, which closes the qualifying zone for European tournaments.
Worrying factor on the eve of the team resume its participation in the Europa League. Next Thursday, February 15, the team will visit the Spartak Moscow.
This may even influence the time of coach Jose Ziganda set the team for the game this Friday. He has three players in the bruising recovery process and can give them a chance to catch up if they receive the green light from the medical department. They are the defenders Mikel Balenziaga (12 games in the 2017/2018 Spanish Championship without a goal) and Oscar de Marcos (seven games without a goal) and striker Iker Muniain (six games, one goal).
The home campaign, which is often decisive in Athletic’s good campaigns, has been even more disappointing in the current season. The team has the fifth worst use in LaLiga when only the results of the teams in their stadiums are taken into account. He added 14 (three wins, five draws and two losses) of the 30 points.
The current form of Las Palmas
Still in the relegation zone, the Las Palmas won an important victory on Monday, February 5. Acting at home, defeated Malaga, another who is in the region of sticking, by 1 to 0.
He could not get out of the uncomfortable situation. Not even gained position in the table. But he approached the rivals. With 17 points (five wins, two draws and 15 losses), he is in the 19th position. It has the same score of La Coruña, eighteenth, but that takes advantage in the balance of goals. The Levante, seventeenth and first out of the relegation zone, has three more points.
The team has two medical doubts for the confrontation. They are in the ward defender Pedro Bigas (11 games in the Spanish 2017/2018 Championship, no goal) and midfielder Jerónimo Momo (seven games, no goal).
History of the matches Athletic Bilbao vs Las Palmas
The teams have had nine matches throughout history. The tie was the most recorded result. It happened on four occasions. Las Palmas have three wins, including the 1-0 in the first round of the current La Liga season. Bilbao won twice.
Quality has been lacking for both teams throughout the season. However, Athletic has been a bit more consistent. So it should be considered the best guess for the game this Friday. The price is 1.44 on Bet365. Draw promotes return of 4.50. Las Palmas success yields 7.50 for each real bet. Quotes were in effect at 10:33 AM from 8/2/2018.