Will the Basques get back on track?
On Sunday, both Athletic Club Bilbao and the “Yellow Submarine” will end a week of three games that could hardly have been more different for the two teams. While Villarreal has worked its way up to third place in the table with two wins, the Basques have suffered a defeat against Valencia and an unsatisfactory draw against bottom-of-the-table Girona.
Thanks to their great start to the season, Ernesto Valverde’s team remains in fifth place, but this cannot hide the Basques’ poor form since the international break. Since then, the Champions League participants have only picked up one point out of a possible nine in the league and also lost their opening game against Arsenal in Europe’s premier competition.
This poor run of form has led to a corresponding adjustment in the betting odds. Although the “Yellow Submarine” is one of the Basques’ favorite opponents, a bet on Villarreal to win away against Athletic Bilbao promises a high return.
Marcelino Garcia’s team also got off to a bad start after the international break with defeats against Atletico Madrid and Tottenham. However, with two 2-1 wins in a row, the “Yellow Submarine” has now redeemed itself and is three points ahead of this week’s opponents in third place.
However, last year’s fifth-placed team has so far only scored points against teams that are considered to be significantly weaker than themselves. In the Basques, they now face an opponent that can be considered roughly on par with them. Therefore, the prediction for Villarreal vs. Athletic Bilbao promises a closer fight than the bookmakers’ assessments would suggest.
As an alternative to betting on the outcome of the game, you could also bet on the number of goals scored in this match. Since La Liga is generally a competition in which fewer goals are scored compared to the other top five leagues, and both teams rely on a stable defense, it might be worth betting on “under 2.5 goals.” This is not only supported by the fact that Villarreal vs. Athletic Club offers comparatively high odds for this event, but also by a very special personnel decision.
After seven and a half years, most of which he spent at Manchester City, Aymeric Laporte, one of the best center backs in the world, has returned to his youth club. Due to some issues surrounding his registration, he only made his long-awaited debut last weekend. But now he is finally available to Ernesto Valverde again and will undoubtedly help keep opponents away from his own goal with his class and experience.
FC Villarreal – Athletic Bilbao Head-to-head record
The most recent head-to-head matches clearly show why Villarreal is one of the Basques’ favorite opponents. Athletic Club has lost only one of its last 13 games against the “Yellow Submarine.” Given this statistic, it is hardly surprising that the betting recommendation for this match predicts away points. That’s why you can also hedge your bets with the double chance X2 and factor in a draw.
Villarreal – Athletic Bilbao Tip
On Sunday, two teams that must be considered equal in terms of squad quality will face each other at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
Although the Basques are currently experiencing a slight dip in form, this does not justify the unequal betting odds offered for Villarreal vs. Athletic Bilbao. Therefore, a tip for away points is worth considering in this match.
Furthermore, a goal bet could also be placed in this encounter. The fact that the Basques have one of the best center backs in the world in Aymeric Laporte in their ranks suggests that fewer than 2.5 goals will be scored.
