Athletic Bilbao will be aiming to stretch their unbeaten run of form to six matches when they welcome Rayo Vallecano to San Mames in La Liga on Saturday afternoon.
The Lions are currently fifth in the La Liga table, boasting 25 points from their opening 14 matches of the season, while Rayo are 10th, collecting 19 points from their first 14 games of 2023-24.
Match preview
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Athletic entered Monday's clash with Girona off the back of a three-game winning run in all competitions, and they managed to claim a welcome point against the surprise package in Spain's top flight this term.
The 1-1 draw extended Athletic's unbeaten run to five matches, with their last defeat proving to be a 1-0 reverse against the champions Barcelona on October 22, and a record of seven wins, four draws and three defeats from 14 matches has left them in fifth position on 25 points.
There is actually a six-point gap between the Lions and fourth-placed Barcelona, with the top four pulling clear, but Ernesto Valverde's side will be expecting to be firmly in the mix for a possible Europa League spot this term, and they will be determined to return to winning ways in this match.
Athletic have only lost once at home in the league this season, which came on the opening weekend to Real Madrid, but they have won four and drawn two of their six fixtures in front of their own fans since.
The Basque outfit are also unbeaten in their last three league games with Rayo, including a 3-2 victory in the corresponding match between the two teams last season.
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Rayo have proved difficult to beat in Spain's top flight this season, only losing three of their 14 matches, but they have drawn seven times, which is the joint-most in the division alongside Getafe and Mallorca.
The capital outfit have picked up 19 points from their 14 games in 2023-24, which has left them in 10th position in the table, level on points with eighth-placed Getafe, while they are five from Real Betis in seventh.
Los Franjirrojos finished 11th in La Liga last season, but they will be eyeing a top-half spot this term, especially as recent results would have boosted their confidence, holding both Real Madrid and Barcelona to draws in two of their last three matches.
Rayo have had a tough run, facing three of the top four in their last three matches, and they lost at home to Girona on November 11, with their last victory proving to be a 1-0 success at Las Palmas on October 22.
Francisco's side are actually unbeaten in their last four league matches on their travels, which includes the goalless draw that they claimed away to Real Madrid before the November international break.
Team News
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Athletic will again be missing Dani Garcia and Yeray Alvarez through injury, but the home side are otherwise in strong shape heading towards Saturday's contest.
Head coach Valverde is unlikely to find a reason to change the side that started against Girona last time out, with Inaki Williams, Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet again set to support Gorka Guruzeta at centre-forward.
Mikel Vesga and Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta started as the central midfielders in the team's last match, and that should remain the case despite Ander Herrera being available for selection.
As for Rayo, head coach Francisco should have a full complement to choose from, with Alvaro Garcia also available again following a suspension.
Garcia is set to return to the starting side for this contest, but there are not expected to be any surprises elsewhere, with Isi Palazon, Sergio Camello and Oscar Trejo all set to feature in the XI.
Abdul Mumin was substituted in the second half of the clash with Barcelona last time out, but it was a tactical change rather than an enforced one, and he will be fit to start for the visitors this weekend.
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; De Marcos, Vivian, Paredes, Lekue; Ruiz de Galarreta, Vesga; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Guruzeta
Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:
Dimitrievski; Balliu, Mumin, Lejeune, Espino; Palazon, U Lopez, Valentin, A Garcia; Trejo, Camello
We say: Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Rayo Vallecano
Rayo have proven to be difficult to beat this season, and Athletic will be under no illusions of the size of the task facing them this weekend. We are expecting a very close match on Saturday but believe that Athletic's quality in the forward positions will allow them to secure a vital three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
