Athletic Bilbao vs Rayo Vallecano Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

Preview

Joel Amorim Apr 09, 2016 @ 01:42 am

Next Sunday, 10th of April 2016, a moralized Rayo Vallecano will visit the Basque Country to measure forces with Athletic Bilbao at the Cathedral San Mamés for Round 32 of the Spanish Liga BBVA.

On April the 1st, Rayo Vallecano managed to extend their positive run after overcoming Getafe at Vallecas by 2-0. Los Franjirrojos won the Madrid derby thanks to a good performance by their front duo, Miku and Javi Guerra, who helped the home side return to winning ways after a long run without a single win. Rayo Vallecano have managed to escape from the relegation zone, at least for now, and a win at San Mamés next weekend would certainly offer them plenty more room to breathe.

Paco Jémez’s men have just been defeated three times since the beginning of 2016, but the huge amount of draws hasn't allowed them to escape the relegation zone that easily. Rayo’s record away from Vallecas isn’t by any means impressive, as they have only managed to win once when playing the visitors’ role. Next Sunday’s fixture will certainly not be an easy one for them, especially if we have in mind that Paco Jémez will have several players out due to injury or suspension. Yoel and Tito are suspended and will miss their team’s visit to Bilbao, while Jozabed, Ebert, Toño and Cobeño are all sidelined due to injury and will also miss out there.

As for Athletic Bilbao, the Basque team didn’t have the best of weeks out there after losing to Sevilla at San Mamés for the first-leg of the UEFA Europa League Quarter-finals. The usual suspect Aritz Aduriz, opened the score for them, but two defensive mistakes cost them a painful defeat.

Athletic aren’t, in fact, going through the best of moments at La Liga after having failed to win any of their last two matches.The 2-1 defeat at Cornella-El Prat against Espanyol later last month and a home draw with Granada last round forced them to drop one place in the league table.

For next Sunday’s fixture against Rayo Vallecano, Ernesto Valverde will not be able to rely on the services of Laporte and Sabin Merino, who remain sidelined due to injury.

Athletic

Stats: W-1 L-3 D-1

Recent Form - LDLLW

Rayo Vallecano

Stats: W-1 L-2 D-2

Recent Form - WDDLL

Possible Line-ups

Athletic (4-2-3-1) - Iraizoz - Lekue - Boveda - Etxeita - Balenziaga - Beñat - Iturraspe - Eraso - Susaeta - Muniain - Aduriz

Rayo Vallecano (4-4-2) - Carlos - Zé Castro - Quini - Llorente - Crespo - Trashorras - Baena - Hernández - Bebé - Miku - Guerra

Injury List / Suspended Players

Athletic - Laporte (inj) - Sabin Merino (inj)

Rayo Vallecano - David Cobeño (inj) - Toño (inj) - Ebert (inj) - Jozabed (inj) - Yoel (sus) - Tito (sus)

Head-to-head matches:

League Positions