Athletic Bilbao Host Espanyol in La Liga Clash at San Mames

The tenth week of La Liga sees Athletic Bilbao facing off against Espanyol at the San Mames Barria on Saturday afternoon. Both teams have plenty at stake as they look to improve their standings in the league table.

Athletic Bilbao, under the tutelage of coach Ernesto Valverde, aims to recover from a recent 2-1 defeat to Girona. That loss followed a six-game unbeaten streak in all competitions for the Basque club. Currently, Bilbao sits in sixth position with 14 points from four victories, two draws, and three losses. They are just three points shy of overtaking Villarreal, who hold the fourth spot.

Espanyol enters the fixture positioned 14th in the table with 10 points, after recording three wins, one draw, and suffering five defeats. Their recent La Liga form saw them overcoming Mallorca 2-1 prior to the international break, which was much needed after consecutive losses to top-tier teams like Real Madrid and Villarreal.

Injuries pose a concern for Athletic Bilbao, with key players like Iñaki Williams and Oihan Sancet doubtful due to respective muscular and thigh issues. Yuri Berchiche and Ander Herrera are also expected to miss out, while captain Iker Muniain is suspended following a red card against Girona.

Espanyol, who returned to La Liga after securing a promotion via the Segunda Division playoffs, contend with injuries too. Joselu, their top scorer this season, might be missed due to a knee issue; however, there’s optimism surrounding his participation in the upcoming match.

Coach Valverde highlighted the significance of this encounter, not just because of the need for points but also due to his personal history with Espanyol, having both played for and managed the club in previous seasons. “It’s a special match for me,” stated Valverde, reflecting on his past with the Catalan team.

As for the predicted line-ups, Athletic Bilbao may field a relatively unchanged team with players like Unai Simón likely returning as goalkeeper, supported in defense by Óscar de Marcos. Meanwhile, Espanyol’s lineup could feature its usual offensive setup with Javi Puado and Nico Melamed leading the way.