Alaves vs Ath Bilbao prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-12-14 15:15.
[p]An Alavés side dangling over the relegation places must be concerned about the form of upcoming opponents Athletic Bilbao as La Liga matchday 17 action commences. Now dragging a five-game winless run in all competitions (D2, L3), Alavés at least avoided defeat in new boss Eduardo Coudet’s debut league game as they held out at Osasuna for a 2-2 draw.[/p]
[p]The new coach admitted he has been impressed, stating that “the players have sacrificed themselves” since his arrival and considering they’ve lost more La Liga away games than any other side (seven) he’ll be happy to bring his side back to home turf. At the Mendizorroza Stadium, AlavĂ©s have only lost two games so far (W3, D2) with only five La Liga sides conceding less than their eight home goals in such games this season.[/p]
[p]Athletic Club are starting to taste the fruits of their endeavours, as after winning their first major trophy for 40 years last season, they’ve also recorded 32 points or more after 17 games played in consecutive campaigns for the first time since 1983/84 – a season where they went on to win the title![/p]
[p]Straight off the bat of winning five straight European games for the first time since 1985 after beating Fenerbahçe 2-0 on Wednesday, an Athletic side who sit in La Liga’s top four ahead of the matchday are on a roll. That’s six straight wins in all competitions for Ernesto Valverde’s side, and they haven’t been beaten in eight La Liga games (W5, D3) – their best record since going ten unbeaten at the start of the year![/p]
[p]Players to watch: Kike GarcĂa is the man to watch for AlavĂ©s after netting in consecutive games for the first time since January 2022, while Iñaki Williams was Athletic Club’s hero in the UEFA Europa League in midweek when netting a brace and he also struck in his side’s H2H victory here last season.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Athletic Club haven’t conceded in this H2H since 2020 (W4, D2), winning the last three 2-0.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Luke Bridle[/i][/p]