Ath Bilbao vs Osasuna prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-05-10 19:00.
[p]With four games of the season remaining, all against sides who begin this gameweek in the bottom half of the table, fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao have not yet given up hope of snatching the final Champions League spot from Atlético Madrid. The Lions are six points behind the fourth spot, but have a seven-point cushion over sixth, so a top-five finish for the first time since 2015/16 is on the cards.[/p]
[p]Athletic have already secured a European berth for next season, after winning the Copa del Rey in early April, and they got their first victory since that triumph (D2, L1) when they beat Getafe in the last round, despite finishing the game with nine men. Back at the Estadio San Mamés for this clash with Osasuna, Ernesto Valverde’s side are defending an unbeaten home run (W14, D5) which stretches all the way back to Round 1 when they lost to Real Madrid, who secured the title last weekend.[/p]
[p]It would be a surprise if Osasuna were able to get a victory on Saturday as they have won only two games on the road in La Liga since the turn of the year (D2, L4) and have returned from Bilbao with a victory on one occasion since the start of the 2007/8 season (D4, L9). Their overall form ahead of this match is also very poor with four successive defeats while scoring just a single goal. [/p]
[p]Unsurprisingly, Jagoba Arrasate’s team have slid down the table since the start of March and they begin this weekend 13 points from both the European places and the relegation zone. There is still a top ten finish to play for though, and eliminating first half red cards on and off the pitch would be helpful, something Los Rojillos failed to do last week with Jon Moncayola and manager Arrasate both dismissed by the 41st minute, during a 2-0 home loss to Real Betis.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Athletic winger Nico Williams added another two assists to his league contribution tally (G4, A10) last round and he has finished on the winning side the last six times he has scored at home. Midfielder Iker Muñoz is the only Osasuna player to have scored twice since mid-March with both of his goals coming after half-time.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Osasuna have conceded from the 84th minute onwards in three of their last four away games.[/p]