Ath Bilbao vs Mallorca prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-02-01 20:00.
Athletic Bilbao’s pursuit of a top-four spot has taken a hit in recent weeks with the club winless and scoreless in each of their last two La Liga outings (D1, L1). However, between those failures came progression to the Copa del Rey semi-final, which if they win they could end up facing none other than Mallorca in the showpiece final, with their visitors taking part in the other semi-final!
Ernesto Valverde’s side do sit relatively comfortably in fifth place with a six-point gap to sixth ahead of this matchday, yet their floundering league performances have kept them from upsetting the apple cart in the top-four. A home return should be a boost for Athletic then, who have lost just once here in league action all season (W8, D2, L1) and have won each of their last seven competitive home games in succession, a run bookended by a stunning 4-2 win over Barcelona!
That Barcelona victory came in Copa del Rey action, as did Mallorca’s last win in the quarter-final against long-time La Liga leaders Girona. Such results should offer a confidence boost as the underdog here at San MamĂ©s for a side that could yet get dragged into the relegation battle, yet they’ve only overcome pre-match outsider status to win on one of 13 occasions in league action this season – one of the worst such win-rates in the division (W1, D6, L6).
Such drab form also matches up well with Mallorca’s generally dire away league record this term (W1, D4, L6), which includes an eight-game travelling winless run in La Liga ahead of this tough trip. In fact, Mallorca had gone nearly six games without an away league goal until their 90th-minute equaliser against Villarreal in their latest trip, which is quite foreboding form ahead of one of Spain’s toughest assignments.
Players to watch: Iñaki Williams announced his return from the Africa Cup of Nations with a goal and an assist against Barcelona in cup action and could strike again after hitting a goal against Mallorca in each of the last two seasons. Mallorca’s Abdón Prats has incredibly scored more cup goals (G6) than he has in league action this term (G5), though he’s yet to be on the winning side in five personal H2Hs (D3, L2).
Hot stat: Only Atlético Madrid (seven) have scored in both halves of more home league games than Athletic (six) ahead of the round.