Athletic Bilbao vs Girona Prediction & Betting Tips

Athletic Bilbao welcome Girona to San Mames on Monday in La Liga. Girona look to reel Real Madrid back in and regain the top spot in La Liga whereas Athletic look to leapfrog Atletico Madrid into the Champions League spots.

• Girona to win @ 5/2 on William Hill
• Both teams to score @ 4/7 on Paddy Power
• Over 1.5 goals @ ¼ on William Hill

These odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

A loss last weekend for Girona made the gap at the top a big mountain to climb, but a win could not only reel Real Madrid in but also keep the likes of Barcelona at bay. Athletic Bilbao also need the win, with a chance to play in the Champions League up for grabs.

Athletic currently sit fifth in La Liga after 23 games. Bilbao have 13 wins, six draws and four losses, leaving them on 45 points, just three points behind Atletico Madrid in the final Champions League spot.

Bilbao have been impressive in front of goal so far this season, scoring 42 goals in 23 games, giving them an average of 1.83 goals a game. At the other end of the pitch Athletic are even better, conceding just 21 goals and keeping 11 clean sheets, the second most in the league.

Girona, on the other hand, currently sit second in La Liga. In 24 games, Girona have 17 wins, five draws and two losses which leaves them on 56 points, five points behind Real Madrid but five points ahead of Barcelona.

In 24 games, however, Girona have scored 52 goals, the joint best scoring record in the league with Real Madrid, giving them an average of 2.17 goals a game. Girona have struggled at the other end of the pitch. In 24 games they have conceded 29 goals and have kept eight clean sheets, which ranks their defence the seventh-best in La Liga.

Athletic Bilbao and Girona have met just seven times since Girona were promoted in 2017. Nothing can separate the two sides, with both teams picking up three wins, with the other game ending in a draw.

This fixture is not the highest-scoring affair with only 18 goals in seven games, and three of the games having only one side on the scoresheet. However, this fixture is also a breeding ground for yellow cards, 24 cards shown in seven games.

Athletic Bilbao Team News

Ernesto Valverde only has one injury, but a big one to Gorka Guruzeta, who is out with a muscle injury.

Girona Team News

Michel will be missing Toni Villa, who has had a long term injury keeping him from starting this season. However, Artem Dovbyk could return this weekend.

In their last five games in all competitions, Athletic Bilbao have three wins, one draw and one loss.

Despite having just one shot on target for the whole 90 minutes, Hugo Duro scored the only goal of the game in the second half to give Valencia the 1 - 0 win over Bilbao.

The Quarter-final of the Copa del Rey, Bilbao hosted Barcelona. Guruzeta opened the scoring for Bilbao in the first minute, but goals from Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal gave Barcelona the 2 - 1 lead at halftime. Oihan Sancet’s second-half goal levelled the game and sent it to extra time. Inaki Williams and Nico Williams both scored in the 4 - 2 win for Bilbao.

Back in La Liga, Bilbao took on Cadiz. Bilbao couldn’t manage a single shot on target and Cadiz could only manage two shots on target as neither team could find the back of the net in the 0 - 0 draw.

Bilbao bounced back next time out against Mallorca. A brace from Yuri Berchiche and goals from Guruzeta and Iker Muniain gave Bilbao the 4 - 0 win.

The first leg of the Copa del Rey Semi-final saw Bilbao take a trip to Atletico Madrid. A penalty from Alejandro Berenguer Rermiro in the 25th minute was the only goal of the game in the 1 - 0 win for Bilbao.

Athletic Bilbao will also face Almeria this Monday.

In their last five games in all competitions, Girona have two wins, one draw and two losses.

Despite Isaac Romero opening the scoring for Sevilla in the tenth minute, a six minute hat-trick from Artem Dovbyk, gave Girona the 3 - 1 lead before the 20 minute mark. Viktor Tsyhankov and Cristhian Stuani both scored in the second half to give Girona the 5 - 1 win over Sevilla.

The Quarter-final of the Copa del Rey saw Girona take on Mallorca. Cyle Larin opened the scoring for Mallorca and a brace from Abdon Prats gave Mallorca the 3 - 0 lead at halftime. Following the red card to Antonio Jose Raillo Arenas, Stuani and Savio both scored, but Mallorca held on for the 3 - 2 win.

Back in La Liga, Girona faced Celta Vigo. Portu scored the only goal of the game in the 20th minute to give Girona the 1 - 0 win.

The visit from Real Sociedad saw just five shots on target for the entire 90 minutes. Neither Girona or Real Sociedad could convert any of their minimal shots on target as the game ended 0 - 0.

The most recent outing for Girona was a big clash at the top of the table against Real Madrid. Vinicius Junior opened the scoring in the sixth minute and Jude Bellingham’s first goal doubled the lead before halftime. Bellingham’s second goal and a goal from Rodrygo gave Real Madrid the big 4 - 0 win.

Despite the loss against Real Madrid, Girona have dominated this season and are likely to bounce back against Athletic Bilbao but with both teams scoring. Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Girona
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Athletic Bilbao vs Girona is unavailable to watch in the U.K. but can be followed online on BBC Sport or Sky Sports.

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