Ath Bilbao vs Celta Vigo prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-11-09 20:00.
There were no midweek commitments for Athletic Bilbao or Celta Vigo, neither of whom need the distraction right now. Athletic matched last season’s 12-round La Liga (LL) haul of 21 points (W6, D3, L3), which was already their best of the 21st century, with a 3-2 victory at Villarreal last weekend. Ironically, their 12th game of 2022/23 was also a one-goal victory against the same opposition!
But that’s where they need the similarities to end. Athletic would then go on to win three of their following 12 games to drop out of contention for European places, a fate that Ernesto Valverde would want to avoid this time around as they sit in fifth place ahead of the round. Perhaps that’s why Valverde told the media that last weekend’s win “means a lot”, particularly as they were on the verge of squandering yet another half-time lead, just as they did against both Valencia (2-2) and Getafe (2-2) earlier in the season.
Athletic’s imposing undefeated record of W6, D3 as favourites this LL season doesn’t bode well for a Celta side languishing in the relegation zone (W1, D4, L7), particularly as they themselves haven’t won a single LL match as an underdog this season (D1, L4). The grand plan to bring master technician Rafael BenĂtez to Vigo has backfired immensely, making their centenary year one to remember for all of the wrong reasons.
Last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Sevilla was more of the same. Once again, Celta Vigo were on the wrong end of a refereeing controversy, leading to Iago Aspas hurling a sideline VAR monitor to the ground in fury. BenĂtez, no stranger to publicly bemoaning LL officiating this season, is growing tired of “talking about how well we played, how many chances we had … and how we didn’t get three points.” On the face of it a trip to Athletic might not be the place to bring about any immediate change in fortunes, but Celta have lost just once at this venue in the last four meetings (W2, D1).
Players to watch: Iñaki Williams is rediscovering some of his best football, contributing a goal and assist to Athletic’s last two LL games. Jørgen Strand Larsen found the net not only in Celta’s sole LL away win this season, but also in the most recent H2H meeting.
Hot stat: Both teams scored on the day in all five personal battles between Valverde and BenĂtez, as well as in five of Celta’s last seven LL matches.