Comments and predictions for Athletic Bilbao vs Girona: Difficult win

Athletic Bilbao will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in La Liga to 14 games when they welcome Girona to San Mames for an intriguing contest on Saturday afternoon.

The hosts are currently fourth in La Liga, four points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal, while Girona are seventh, one point behind sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano in the race for European qualification.

Latest Athletic Bilbao vs Girona squad information

Athletic have doubts over Nico Williams, Nico Serrano and Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, with all three needing assessment before determining whether they can be involved this weekend.

Head coach Valverde is unlikely to make many changes to the side that started against Real Betis last time out, but there could be one change in attack, with Gorka Guruzeta likely to come in to lead the line.

As a result, Unai Gomez could be benched, with Inaki Williams and Alex Berenguer playing on either flank.

For Girona, Oriol Romeu and Daley Blind were absent from the match against Las Palmas, and both remain doubtful for this match.

Abel Ruiz scored last time out and is expected to continue in central midfield for Michel's side this weekend, while Donny van de Beek will also have a place in the No.10 position.

Yaser Asprilla is perhaps the player struggling the most to force his way into the starting line-up, but it could be a similar story for Girona on Saturday after securing a much-needed three points last time out.

Latest predicted lineup Athletic Bilbao vs Girona

Athletic Bilbao:

Simon; Gorosabel, Vivian, Paredes, Lekue; I Williams, Jauregizar, Vesga, Berenguer; Sancet; Guruzeta

Girona:

Gazzaniga; A Martinez, Juanpe, Krejci, Gutierrez; Herrera, Martin; Tsygankov, Van de Beek, Gil; Ruiz

Latest football commentary Athletic Bilbao vs Girona

Athletic are enjoying a superb campaign in Spain's top flight, boasting a record of 11 wins, 8 draws and 3 losses from 22 matches, which has seen them sit fourth in the table with 41 points.

Ernesto Valverde's side are just four points behind third-placed Barcelona and four points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal in the race for Champions League qualification next season, while they are also in the knockout stages of the Europa League.

The Lions have won just two of their last five games in Spain's top flight, drawing their last two against Leganes and Real Betis, but they are now on a 13-game unbeaten run in the league, dating back to the start of October.

Ironically, Girona were the last team to beat Athletic in La Liga, recording a 2-1 home win, but the Basque side have the third-best home record this season, picking up 22 points from 11 games.

Athletic also recorded a 3-2 success against Girona in the corresponding fixture in the 2023-24 campaign, but they have won just one of their last five top-flight games against the Catalan club.

Girona ended a four-game losing streak by recording a 2-1 win over Las Palmas on Monday evening, with the result moving the Catalans up to seventh in the table, just one point behind sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano.

Michel's side had a historic 2023-24 campaign, finishing third in the table, but it was always going to be difficult for them to repeat that this season.

Girona are in just their sixth ever season at this level, so a top-six finish would once again represent a great campaign, and that certainly looks achievable for this team in the final months of the campaign.

The Whites have been inconsistent on their travels this season, picking up just 12 points from 11 games, and they will travel to an Athletic side that have lost just once at home in the league this season.

There is certainly enough talent in the Girona squad to cause problems, however, and as mentioned, their recent record against Athletic is impressive, including a 3-2 win at San Mames in the 2022-23 La Liga season.

Latest Athletic Bilbao vs Girona score prediction

Based on the above football comments, we and the world's leading football sites have given the following results for the match Athletic Bilbao vs Girona :

• Sportsmole: Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Girona

• WhoScore: Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Girona
• Our prediction: Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Girona

When and where to watch Athletic Bilbao vs Girona live?

To watch the live match Athletic Bilbao vs Girona in La Liga taking place at 22:15 on February 8, viewers can watch on K+ Sport, K+PM or online sports channels. Wish you all have fun watching football.

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