Ath Bilbao vs Villarreal prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2022-10-29 17:30.
Two former Barcelona managers will lock horns for the first time since 2019 as Athletic Bilbao and Villarreal look to build upon their 18-point tallies and move closer to the top four. As the scuffle over a potential partial sale of La Liga (LL) media rights simmers away, Athletic are also invested in an early-season scrap for UEFA Champions League (UCL) qualification as a four-game winless run (D2, L2) leaves them on the verge of dropping out of the top six.
It was a disastrous return to Camp Nou for Athletic boss Ernesto Valverde as his club were subjected to a second consecutive 4-0 loss away to Barcelona. Their persistent struggles on the road came to the fore again, so two home LL fixtures prior to the World Cup break will be most welcome. They claimed some big scalps at home last LL campaign, defeating four of the top-seven finishers at home (D1, L2), and should take confidence from not being disgraced against fellow top-four aspirants Atlético Madrid (L 1-0) in their previous home fixture.
The ‘goals scored’ tally is all that separates Athletic and opponents Villarreal, who this week began a new era at a crucial stage of their season after ex-manager Unai Emery returned to the Premier League. An inconsequential 2-2 UEFA Europa League draw with Israel’s Hapoel Be'er Sheva allowed Quique Setién to ease his way in without pressure.
They recently put their own four-game LL drought (D2, L2) behind them, courtesy of back-to-back home LL victories. Setién’s long-term challenge is to now turn around their LL away record (W2, D2, L3), particularly as all three defeats have been against clubs alongside them in the top seven going into the round. Should he fail to do that, their away struggles could ultimately cost them UCL football just as it did in 2021/22 (W6, D5, L8).
Players to watch: Athletic veteran Raúl García might not be able to open the scoring for a third consecutive H2H as a likely substitute, but could register his ninth goal against Villarreal after scoring two LL appearances ago. Villarreal will hope Arnaut Danjuma gets on the scoresheet as he’s never been on the losing side for them in 14 games when doing so (W10, D4).
Hot stat: The eight meetings between Valverde and Setién produced an average of 4.13 goals per game.