Sports Mole previews Thursday’s La Liga clash between Leganes and Athletic Bilbao, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
In each side’s sixth game of the 2024-25 La Liga season, Leganes will host Athletic Bilbao on Thursday at Estadio Municipal de Butarque.
The home side have collected five points from their five league outings and are 15th in the table, while the away team have seven points and are currently in 10th place.
Match preview
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This is Leganes’ first season in the top flight since the 2019-20 season, and to their credit they began life in Spain’s premier division well, drawing two and winning one of their first three games.
However, the hosts lost their two subsequent league games 1-0 against Mallorca on August 31 and 2-0 against Real Betis on September 13.
Interestingly, their first loss of the season against Mallorca was also the first time this term they ended a match with more than 50% possession.
Boss Borja Jimenez can have no qualms about his side’s defeat in their most recent match against Real Betis considering Leganes produced just three shots, two of which were speculative long-range strikes.
Of the 20 clubs in the top flight, Jimenez’s team have averaged the lowest possession figure, created the second least amount of xG and had the fewest touches in the opposition box.
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Opponents Athletic Bilbao won 3-2 last time out against Las Palmas on September 15 and won despite Mikel Jauregizar being sent off in the 56th minute.
The visitors drew their opening game 1-1 with Getafe on August 15 and lost their second match 2-1 against Barcelona on August 24.
While Athletic Bilbao may be disappointed that they have tallied just seven points in their opening five games given they accumulated 10 points in their first five matches of the 2023-24 La Liga season, their two losses have come against Spanish giants Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.
With this in mind, manager Ernesto Valverde should be pleased with his side’s showing so far this term, though he will be concerned that his team have conceded six goals and kept just one clean sheet.
Valverde’s side come into the clash having won just two of their last five games in La Liga, but they have won four of their last seven top-flight fixtures.
Athletic Bilbao’s away form is not particularly strong, with the club winning four, drawing two and losing six of their last 12 matches on the road.
Leganes La Liga form:
Leganes form (all competitions):
Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:
Athletic Bilbao form (all competitions):
Team News
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The hosts have doubts about the fitness of Renato Tapia and Yvan Neyou, although they are the only injury concerns.
Midfielder Julian Chicco could come into the starting XI in place of Neyou, and he may be partnered by Darko Brasanac.
As for the visitors, defender Yeray Alvarez and goalkeeper Unai Simon are set to miss out, as is the suspended Mikel Jauregizar.
Benat Prados is a likely candidate to replace Jauregizar in Athletic Bilbao’s midfield, while Julen Agirrezabala can be expected to continue in goal.
Leganes possible starting lineup:
Soriano; Rosier, Saenz, Gonzalez, Hernandez; Brasanac, Chicco; Cruz, Rodríguez, Franquesa; Haller
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche; Prados, De Galarreta; Williams, Sancet, Williams; Guruzeta
We say: Leganes 0-3 Athletic Bilbao
Although Leganes started the season positively, they have struggled to create many chances in front of goal this term, and it would be surprising if they managed to score against the visitors.
Athletic Bilbao should come into Thursday’s clash as favourites given they have demonstrated they are capable of winning even in adverse conditions.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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