Athletic Club vs Villarreal Prediction, Preview, Lineups and Team News | La Liga, December 8, 2024

Preview

• Tournament: La Liga
• Date: Saturday, Dec 8
• Kick-off Time: 03:15 pm GMT
• Venue: San Mames, Spain

Villarreal will travel to Athletic Club in their 15th game of the 2024/25 La Liga season at San Mames. The hosts remain unbeaten in their last 10 games across all competitions.

Hosts Athletic Club have made a brilliant start to their 2024/25 campaign and are sitting fourth in the league table with 29 points. They are eight points behind rivals Barcelona and enter this game with the aim of maintaining their unbeaten record in their last 10 matches. Ernesto Valverde’s men would be aiming to qualify for the Champions League this term

Meanwhile, Villarreal had a decent start to the new campaign as they are currently sitting fifth in the table with 26 points. The Yellow Submarine entered this game on the back of a 2-2 draw against Girona in their last game. The visitors are brimming with confidence in front of goal and a high-scoring affair is on the horizon at San Mames this weekend.

Athletic Club Team News

Athletic Club would be without the services of Ander Herrera who has picked up a hamstring injury. Other than Herrera, manager Ernesto Valverde has a perfect squad to choose from.

Villarreal Team News

As for the visiting side, they would be without the services of Ramon Terrats, Eric Bailly, Ayoze Perez, Ilias Akhomach, Nicolas Pepe, Juan Foyth and Alfonso Pedraza in this tie. Yeremi Pino will retain his spot down the right.

Athletic Club vs Villarreal Predicted Lineups

Athletic Club predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Agirrezabala

Defenders: De Marcos, Vivian, Alvarez, Berchiche

Midfielders: Ruiz de Galarreta, Prados

Forwards: I. Williams, Sancet, N. Williams; Djalo

Villarreal predicted lineup: (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Conde

Defenders: Navarro, Albiol, Costa, S Cardona

Midfielders: Pino, Parejo, Comesana, Baena

Forwards: Barry, G Moreno

Also Read: Everton vs Liverpool Prediction, Preview, Lineups and Team News | Premier League, December 7, 2024

Head-to-Head Record

The two sides have faced off only 50 times in the past, with Athletic Club winning 16 of those games. Villarreal have won 18 ties between both sides, whereas the remaining 16 games ended in a draw.

Last five match results:

Key Players to Watch in Athletic Club vs Villarreal

Oihan Sancet (Athletic Club)

Oihan Sancet has established himself as one of the pivotal players in La Liga this season who has netted eight goals in 16 appearances across all competitions. His tactical intelligence and ability to lead attacks has attracted the interest of several Premier League clubs.

Ayoze Perez (Villarreal)

Summer signing Ayoze Perez signed a four-year contract with the Yellow Submarine and has made an unexpected start to his new life at La Cerámica. His performances haven’t gone unnoticed as he has bagged 10 goals and two assists in 11 appearances across all competitions.

Athletic Club vs Villarreal Prediction

Just like last season, Athletic Club are expected to finish in the top-half this year and are now looking to secure Champions League qualification for the first time since the 2013/14 season. They have eight of their last 16 league matches and are coming off a surprising 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the midweek clash. The bookmakers have favoured the hosts to win this tie but would struggle to get an easy win against the in-form visitors.

As for Villarreal, they have also made a strong start to the new domestic campaign and are fifth in the league table with 26 points. The Yellow Submarine have been brilliant this season and were held to a 2-2 draw with Girona in their latest La Liga game. They are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions.

Predicted Score: Athletic Club 1-1 Villarreal

Also Read: Girona vs Real Madrid Prediction, Preview, Lineups and Team News | LaLiga, December 7, 2024

Where to Watch Athletic Club vs Villarreal Live?

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