Athletic Bilbao vs Girona
Back the hosts to ease past their struggling visitors
Athletic Bilbao host Girona on Tuesday night as part of a full midweek set of fixtures in La Liga.
Bilbao are traditionally strong at San Memes and this is not an easy venue for visiting teams. Nevertheless, the hosts were surprisingly beaten by Alaves in their last home match before falling to Valencia at the weekend, having been reduced to ten men.
The good news for the Basque club is that the number reflect positively on Ernesto Valverde's men, who have clocked up a home xG of 5.3 from their opening three matches here. They have already beaten Vallecano and Sevilla, yet their defence has been far from secure, and you'd normally expect a little bit more stability from them at home.
This is a good opportunity for them to restore their confidence and put those back-to-back games firmly behind them. They have a decent recent record against Girona, winning each of their last two meetings here and scoring three goals on both occasions.
Girona have seriously struggled so far, and they have taken just a single point from their opening five matches. They have conceded 15 times and scored just twice, producing an xG of just 1.4 on the road and conceding an xGA of 5.1.
Fans have been chanting for the board to resign, and their 4-0 home loss to Levante at the weekend was simply embarrassing. Gone are the days when this side was exciting to watch, and their brief Champions League foray feels like a long time ago.
Michel has looked dejected, and he cannot find the answers. This is a tough assignment and hasn't generally been a happy hunting ground for the club. They might be catching Bilbao at the peak of their powers; however, they simply shouldn't be able to lay a glove on the hosts.
Back a straightforward 90 minutes for the hosts.
Jack’s football journey began in the early 2000s at Bloomfield Road, sparking a lifelong passion for the EFL and beyond. With over a decade of writing and tipping experience, he delivers sharp insights and value-driven betting advice across football, darts, tennis, and horse racing.
When he’s not analysing stats, Jack is on commentary duty for Stoke City and occasionally heard at Owlerton Greyhound Stadium. Based in Leeds, he’s as reliable with a brew as he is with a bet.