Ath Bilbao vs Slavia Prague prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-10-23 19:00.
[p]All roads lead to San MamĂ©s in this seasonâs UEFA Europa League (UEL) and the 2024/25 final hosts, Athletic Bilbao, have made a strong start to their continental campaign, picking up four of the first six available points. Ernesto Valverdeâs charges also go into Thursdayâs match against Slavia Prague after a comprehensive 4-1 La Liga win over Espanyol, which has secured an early berth in the European qualification places and curiously put them within one point of their previous three ten-game league starts. [/p]
[p]Athleticâs only prior engagements against Czech opposition have all come against Sparta Prague, and despite never having won one (D2, L2), they should enter this match with confidence given that only one side has prevented them from scoring on their own patch in the UEL since 2012 (W14, D2, L5 in that time including qualifiers). [/p]
[p]Almost perfect so far in domestic league action this season (W10, D1), Slavia travel confidently as underdogs, having equalled Athleticâs four-point haul in the UEL this term after two rounds. Granted, JindĆich TrpiĆĄovskĂœâs men were pre-match favourites in both those European encounters, but having reached the knockout phase in their last three appearances in the competition proper, they certainly have pedigree in this sphere.[/p]
[p]Despite their relatively strong history of late in the UEL though, Slavia have not fared so well across their 14 clashes against Spanish opponents (W2, D6, L6). Improving on that record by notching up a first-ever away win against a Spanish side (D5, L2) will be no mean feat however, as despite having won three of their last five UEL games on the road (L2), the Czech giants have not tasted victory in back-to-back trips in the competition since making their way to the 2020/21 quarter-final.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Ălex Berenguer registered three goal contributions in Athleticâs last outing (G1, A2) and may hope for more here, with eight of his last ten strikes having arrived at home. For Slavia, MatÄj JurĂĄsek has contributed to goals in both UEL matches this season (G1, A1), while five of his last seven club scoring appearances have seen him net decisively. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Slavia have faced just three shots on target in this seasonâs UEL – a competition-low figure. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Matthew Billon[/i][/p]