Ath Bilbao vs Cadiz CF prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-09-15 12:00.
Collecting seven points from their opening four games of the season (W2, D1, L1) can only be seen as a positive for Athletic Bilbao, but it could’ve been so much better having drawn 0-0 with Mallorca before the international break. Boss Ernesto Valverde has had two weeks to ponder how his side can improve as Athletic continue their quest to break back into La Liga’s (LL) top-seven for the first time since 2016/17.
You'd expect a return to San Mamés would help in that sense, but having lost four of their last six LL home games (W2), that perhaps isn’t the blessing it may seem. The last game in that run was in fact a win, as Athletic came from 2-0 down to beat Real Betis 4-2, a victory which now allows them the chance to win successive LL home games for the first time in 2023. Athletic should fancy their chances too, as Cádiz are a side they boast an impressive record against in LL home H2Hs (W12, D2, L2).
Ordinarily that would probably make Athletic a feared opponent for Cádiz, but with their start to the season mirroring that of the Lions’, the team from the ancient port city ought not to be fazed. Their fine start to the campaign almost certainly builds belief they’re now in a position to push for a first top-half LL finish since their return to the top-flight in 2020/21, although three of their four games so far have been at home.
If they are to be serious about pushing for such a finish, they’ll almost certainly have to improve their away form, with a six-match winless run in LL road trips (D2, L4) a far cry from what you’d expect from a top-half side. They did at least manage to keep last season’s title winners Barcelona at bay for 80 minutes in the only one of those outings to take place this season (L 2-0), but with three of their four goals conceded this season coming after the 80th minute, it’s a problem they need to address quickly.
Players to watch: Athletic’s Mikel Vesga netted a brace from the penalty spot against Betis in their last LL home outing, with five of his last six club goals coming from 12-yards. Darwin MachĂs scored from the spot in Cádiz’s last outing, and he scored the last time he played at San MamĂ©s when playing for Granada.
Hot stat: Cádiz’s four LL outings this season have produced four red cards.