In-form Athletic Bilbao will look to extend their unbeaten run to 10 competitive matches when they play host to Las Palmas in La Liga on Wednesday.
The visitors have also proven to be a tough team to beat in recent weeks, having avoided defeat in each of their last four games across all competitions.
Match preview
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Athletic Bilbao carry significant momentum into their final game of 2023 after winning six and drawing three of their last nine matches across all competitions.
Los Leones claimed a statement 2-0 win in Saturday's home fixture against Atletico Madrid, with Gorka Guruzeta and Nico Williams finding the net to move their side up to fifth position and within three points of the top four.
After claiming a third consecutive home victory, Athletic have now avoided defeat in each of their last eight league matches at San Mames since losing 2-0 to Real Madrid on the opening weekend of the 2023-24 campaign.
Impressively, Ernesto Valverde's side have scored at least two goals across those eight matches in front of their supporters, giving them a total of 24 home league goals – no La Liga side has registered more home goals this season.
They will look to continue that impressive form when they face Las Palmas for the first time since playing out a goalless draw in February 2018, which was a result that extended their unbeaten home record in head-to-head meetings to four matches (W2, D2).
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Competing in their first top-flight campaign since 2017-18, Las Palmas have exceeded all expectations this season to pick up 25 points from their 17 league matches, putting them in the top half rather than a relegation fight that many may have tipped them for at the start of the season.
With two points separating them from the top seven, the team from Gran Canaria may be starting to dream about the outlandish prospect of qualifying for Europe for the first time since appearing in the 1977-78 UEFA Cup.
Rather than focusing on a potential European finish, Garcia Pimienta's current priority will be on extending the club's current unbeaten run, which stands at four competitive matches following Sunday's 1-1 home draw with Cadiz.
While they may have picked up another useful point, they would have been frustrated to miss out on all three after Cadiz's Chris Ramos netted an 83rd minute equaliser to cancel out Pejino's first-ever goal in the top flight.
Ramos's late strike represented just the 14th goal that Las Palmas have conceded this season, ensuring that they head to San Mames with the second-best defensive record in the division as they bid to claim an away victory over Athletic for the first time since October 2000.
Team News
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Athletic defender Oscar de Marcos is unlikely to feature after missing Saturday's win over Atletico Madrid with an ankle injury.
The hosts are also without Yeray Alvarez, Dani Garcia and Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, but they should be able to welcome back Iker Muniain, who is set to feature among the substitutes after recovering from illness.
After coming into the lineup at the weekend, Yuri Berchiche and Ander Herrera could start consecutive matches if Valverde opts to name an unchanged side for the final match of 2023.
As for Las Palmas, they are unable to call upon midfielder Alberto Moleiro, who was forced off at half time against Cadiz due to a shoulder problem.
Fabio Gonzalez remains sidelined with an ankle problem, while Kirian Rodriguez is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the La Liga season.
Julian Araujo is a doubt due to a knock that he sustained at the weekend, but Sergi Cardona could come back into the side following a one-game ban.
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; Lekue, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche; Prados, Herrera; I. Williams, Sancet, N. Williams; Guruzeta
Las Palmas possible starting lineup:
Valles; Suarez, Coco, Marmol, S. Cardona; Munoz, Perrone, Loiodice; Park, Pejino, Munir
We say: Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Las Palmas
Although Las Palmas are currently enjoying a four-game unbeaten run, they will go up against an Athletic side that tends to perform well on home turf.
With that in mind, we think that Los Leones will make full use of home advantage to edge out Las Palmas and finish the calendar year with a victory.
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