Girona vs Ath Bilbao prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2022-11-03 20:00.
Even Girona manager MĂchel admitted that Real Madrid shouldn’t have been denied a match-winning 89th minute goal by VAR last weekend in their 1-1 draw with the league leaders, but a bit of fortune will always be welcomed when your side is separated from the relegation zone only by goal difference. Returning home to the Estadi Montilivi, where Girona have earned eight of their ten La Liga (LL) points this season (W2, D2, L2), will also be helpful as they search for only their second ever victory against Athletic Bilbao (L3).
The most concerning aspect of Girona’s season so far is that they are already seven points behind their 12-game start to their previous relegation-bound LL season (2018/19), which was not helped by being one of just two clubs that failed to win in October. With MĂchel recently becoming the longest serving of six managers (including caretakers) since the start of that season, the board may not have much more patience if their seven-game LL winless streak (D3, L4) extends into the World Cup break.
The pressure on Athletic Club boss Ernesto Valverde subsided somewhat as he accounted for their own wobbly period (D2, L2) to return to winning ways with a 1-0 home win against Villarreal. It ultimately maintained their best record at this point of a LL season during the 21st century, and is a start so sorely needed as this proud club seeks to return to UEFA competition for the first time in six seasons. With a three-point gap between third and seventh place going into this round, there’s no room for error during this packed schedule.
Sixth-placed Athletic’s final two LL matches prior to the break, away to Girona and home to Valladolid, have been identified as key opportunities to possibly take a top-four position into the extended break. Athletic’s travelling record should give them plenty of reason to expect to take points home from northern Catalonia too, as they come into this round with an unbeaten W2, D2 away league record against bottom-half clubs.
Players to watch: Christian Stuani has now recorded Girona’s first or only goal on three occasions this season, assisted by two penalty kicks in their last four matches. Iñaki Williams can top that as he has five first team goals throughout this LL season, helping his team to great success in the process (W4, D1).
Hot stat: All but one of Girona’s six LL home games this season have been level at the break.