Newcastle vs Ath Bilbao prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-11-04 20:00.
[p]Newcastle United will put their impressive winning record at St James’ Park on the line against Athletic Bilbao, who have struggled away from home this season.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Newcastle responded to their 2-1 matchday one loss at Barcelona by recording their largest ever UEFA Champions League (UCL) winning margin (4-0 at Union Saint-Gilloise) and then their joint-highest UCL margin at home against Benfica (3-0), setting them up for a tilt at winning three consecutive major European games for the first time since 2007. While the Magpies’ momentum was checked by West Ham (L 3-1) in the Premier League on Sunday, they’ll relish a return to St James’ Park, where they won all four competitive games in October while conceding just one goal.[/p]
[p]Since beating Qarabağ 3-1 in matchday three, Athletic have twice conceded late goals to lose La Liga games by a one-goal margin, including Saturday’s Basque derby against Real Sociedad (L 3-2). If those slip-ups have frustrated their fans, who have also waited since late August to see a competitive away win (D1, L4), then their recent travelling form in Europe is even more worrying. Not only have the Lions lost four of their last five European away games (D1), but three of those defeats were by a humiliating 4-1 scoreline.[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]The home side on the day won both previous H2Hs by a one-goal margin, while Newcastle have lost three of their last four games against Spanish opposition. Athletic have won only one of their previous ten European away games against English clubs (D1, L8), including all three in 2025. Only once before has a Spanish side lost four major European games against English sides in one calendar year (Atlético Madrid in 2021).[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Each of Newcastle’s last five fixtures produced goals in both halves.[/p]
[p]Newcastle have never drawn a UCL group/league phase game at home (W7, L7).[/p]
[p]Athletic earned fewer than three corners in three of their last four competitive fixtures.[/p]
[p]The second half was the highest scoring half in five of Athletic’s six competitive away games this term.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Jacob Murphy opened the scoring before half-time in seven of his last nine competitive goalscoring outings, including two of Newcastle’s last three games. Robert Navarro has scored in two of his last three appearances for Bilbao, including their UCL victory over Qarabağ, and each of his last five goals arrived after the 50th minute.[/p]
[p]Tino Livramento and Yoane Wissa remain unavailable for Newcastle, while Athletic have a number of players sidelined due to injury including Beñat Prados and Iñaki Williams.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]With Newcastle looking formidable at home and Athletic struggling on the road, our tip is to back Newcastle to lead at half-time/full-time.[/p]
[p][i]Author: John Pennington[/i][/p]