Elche vs Ath Bilbao prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-10-18 12:00.
[p]Elche welcome Athletic Bilbao to the Estadio Martínez Valero aiming to bounce back after losing their unbeaten streak, while the visitors are bidding to return to winning ways. [/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Elche’s impressive nine-match unbeaten streak (W5, D4) came to an end last time out after a 3-1 defeat at Alavés, when they went down to ten men and conceded two goals all in the final 15 minutes. That result left them just outside the top six at the end of the round, but manager Eder Sarabia should be confident they can bounce back here at Estadio Martínez Valero, where they have won three of their four league games (D1) since their promotion back to La Liga in the summer. [/p]
[p]Athletic Bilbao have struggled to find consistency so far this season, with just one win from their last seven competitive matches (D1, L5). That one victory did at least come in their most recent game before the latest international break, defeating Mallorca 2-1, but three straight defeats on the road in all competitions do cast doubt over their ability to build on that here, while an added area of concern for manager Ernesto Valverde will be the fact his side failed to score in both of the La Liga matches in that run. [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Elche claimed a 1-0 victory in the most recent H2H back in May 2023, but that was on the road. Their H2H record at home stands at just one win from their last five clashes in the top flight (D2, L2). [/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Elche are the most fouled La Liga side coming into the round (128).[/p]
[p]Elche have conceded almost half (44%) of their league goals this term beyond the 75th minute. [/p]
[p]Athletic Bilbao have lost their last two away La Liga matches against Valencian teams without scoring a single goal.[/p]
[p]No side has won more La Liga penalties ahead of this round this season than Athletic Bilbao (three). [/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]André Silva has scored four La Liga goals in seven appearances for Elche this season, one more than he scored in his previous season in the entire competition. Athletic will be pleased to have Nico Williams back after returning from a groin injury against Mallorca, and he will be looking to register goal contributions for the first time since the opening day against Sevilla (G1, A1). [/p]
[p]Elche have no new fresh injury issues but Athletic are missing a number of key players, perhaps most crucially forward Iñaki Williams.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]The hosts have settled back into La Liga, and against struggling opponents, backing Elche to win is priced quite generously. [/p]
[p]Author: David H[/p]