Alaves vs Ath Bilbao prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-09-21 19:00.
After being promoted back to La Liga (LL) at the first time of asking via the play-offs last season, Alavés have made a steady start to the 2023/24 campaign by alternating between wins and losses (W2, L3). Their first match back after the international break saw them downed 2-0 by Rayo Vallecano, making it three defeats on the road without even scoring, so a return home to Mendizorrotza will be most welcome for this local derby against Athletic Bilbao.
AlavĂ©s’ perfect start on home soil this season with wins over Sevilla and Valencia will have boosted confidence that their latest LL campaign won’t end in relegation, but they need to make this venue a fortress over the coming months. Overall, Luis GarcĂa’s side are currently 14 unbeaten at home (W9, D5) and haven’t lost to rivals Bilbao here since all the way back in May 2003 (W4, D3 since) – an undefeated streak they’ll be desperate to extend even further!
Athletic are proving to be a much tougher side to beat already this season though, with only Real Madrid, Barcelona and Girona sat above them in the LL standings after matchday five. Their dominant 3-0 home win against Cadiz last Saturday saw them return from the break with a bang to extend their unbeaten run to four league outings (W3, D1).
The visitors do tend to struggle on the road, which remains a cause for concern for manager Ernesto Valverde as he looks to return his side to European qualification. Athletic’s 0-0 draw with Mallorca in their last away outing made it just one victory across their last six LL road trips (D3, L2), a streak which has yielded less than one goal scored on average per game for the Basque side.
Players to watch: AlavĂ©s’ Kike Garcia has scored five goals in this derby in his career – his joint-most against any opposition. Athletic’s Iñaki Williams may have struck twice in LL this season but he’s failed to score in all of his previous 12 H2H appearances (W3, D5, L4)!
Hot stat: Both teams have scored in just three of the last 14 H2Hs.