Relegation candidate Sporting Gijon Sunday traveling down to San Mames for the heavy away match against Athletic Bilbao. The visitors yearn for a rare away win.
Athletic Bilbao
Halfway through the season is Athletic Bilbao counter 29 points. Some I do not indifferent to war, but it is in any case a point more like halfway through the previous season and ten points more than two years ago. In both cases, the team knew European football to win, so in that respect are the Basques on schedule.
Yet I often Athletic Bilbao feel that the red whites do not know to get the most out what’s inside. Too often they alternate good games with games that are not worth the look. Especially Laporte and Muniain I find very disappointing this season. Laporte last season was one of the trendsetters, but this football year has fallen to a simple house-garden-and-kitchen footballer. Muniain belonged until recently the biggest talents in the European field, but could resolve those expectations absolutely not yet. The fact that should draw Aduriz in his old age still ride says it all, knew the Basques last week for their own audience without him to steal points from Atletico Madrid (2-2). Now we need to agree to put down a nice set. Sporting Gijon was defeated in the first half of the season, so the omens are favorable. Besides Aduriz and Benat return after suspension back in the starting line coach Ernesto Valverde.
Probable lineup Athletic Bilbao
Iraizoz; Balenziaga, Laporte, Boveda, De Marcos; Benat, San Jose; Muniain, Raul Garcia, Williams; Aduriz
Sporting Gijon:
Sporting Gijon becomes an issue in the second half of the season to survive. The Asturiërs be with only thirteen points in acute distress and degradation must catch up five points at number seventeen Leganes. It is therefore disorder in the Molinon, though there seems to be gently again to shed some light at the end of the tunnel. Under new coach Rubi red whites held last week on a point of their visit to Real Betis (0-0). Rubi was afterwards proud of his team: “We have shown that we are still alive. We will roll up our sleeves and fight hard for survival. ”
There was indeed a grain of truth in it. Against Real Betis, there was a team that fought for every meter, the scoreless draw at the Benito Villamarin was deserved. Visiting Athletic Bilbao will need to pull visitors from the same keg. In the back of the visitors, however, quite battered, because with Douglas and Mere are two key defenders offside. Sporting Gijon’re facing a serious power syndrome, because the last away win was almost a year ago. Since January 31 of last year (Valencia-out: 0-1) the red-whites did on foreign soil not win more.
Probable lineup Sporting Gijon
Cuellar; Canella, Amorebieta, Babin, Lillo; Cases Sergio Alvarez, Carmona; Isma Lopez, Cop, Victor
Direct matches between Athletic Bilbao vs Gijon
21.08.16 LL Gijon Ath Bilbao 2 : 1
27.07.16 CF Gijon Ath Bilbao 1 : 1
06.03.16 LL Gijon Ath Bilbao 0 : 2
26.10.15 LL Ath Bilbao Gijon 3 : 0
25.03.12 LL Ath Bilbao Gijon 1 : 1
Prediction: Over 2,5 goals
Odds: 1.75
