Will the Granotes score at the San Mamés?
Athletic Bilbao started the 2021/22 season strongly and were in the upper third of the table early on. However, the Basques, who have only won five of their last 17 league games, gradually lost their way. As eighth in the table, they are currently seven points off sixth place. A three-goal win at home against the bottom team would be correspondingly important.
However, the visitors from Valencia have recently found new hope in the relegation battle. The Granotes have picked up seven out of a possible nine points from their last three league games and are back within sight of the relegation zone. Nevertheless, in the run-up to the duel between Athletic Bilbao and Levante, the odds are clearly in favour of the home side.
The Athletic Club have only won six of their twelve home games at the San Mamés. It is true that the Valencians are now coming to the Basque Country as a team with a weak away record, having lost nine of their 13 away games while conceding 30 goals already (both are league-wide negatives). Due to the strength of form of the East Spaniards, betting on a home win for the Leones against Levante is nevertheless risky.
Also, considering that the Valencians have scored in eight of their last ten away games at the San Mamés, betting on goals on both sides makes the most sense.
Athletic Bilbao – Statistics & current form
Athletic Club joins FC Barcelona and Real Madrid as the only teams never to be relegated from Spain’s top division, having been in the top flight continuously since 1928. The Leones have won eight league titles and 23 Copa del Rey titles.
In both competitions, however, the Basques secured their last title in 1984, making the last few years all the more sobering, even though there have been renewed hopes of winning the Supercopa de Espana in 2020.
After defeat in Valencia also without a major title in 2022
The Basques reached the final of the Copa del Rey in both 2020 and 2021, where they were losers, as they had been in the previous four finals. In the new season, however, the Leones attacked again and eliminated both Barcelona (3:2 after extra time) and Real Madrid (1:0) on their way to the semifinals.
During the week, however, they lost 1-0 at Valencia CF after a 1-1 draw in the first leg. The Basques thus missed out on a place in this year’s final, making it clear that there is no title up for grabs in 2022 either.
Lost three of last four competitive games
Marcelino’s men now head into matchday 27 suitably ticked off. The Basques have lost three of their last four competitive matches and have only won five of their last 17 games in league play alone.
It is therefore somewhat surprising that the Leones go into the home game as such clear favourites against La Liga’s in-form bottom side, who have been given a second breath of fresh air in the relegation battle.
Predicted line-up of Athletic Bilbao:
Simón – Berchiche – Martínez – Álvarez – Lekue – Muniain – Vesga – D. García – Berenguer – I. Williams – R. García
Last matches played by Athletic Bilbao:
Copa del Rey
03/02 2022 – Valencia 1 – 0 Athletic Bilbao
LaLiga
02/27 2022 – Barcelona 4 – 0 Athletic Bilbao
02/20 2022 – Athletic Bilbao 4 – 0 San Sebastian
02/14 2022 – Mallorca 3 – 2 Athletic Bilbao
Copa del Rey
02/10 2022 – Athletic Bilbao 1 – 1 Valencia
Levante – Statistics & current form
Levante Unión Deportiva have played in the top flight in ten of the last eleven seasons. In 2016, the Valencia-based club was relegated from La Liga, but returned to the top flight the following year as second division champions.
Currently, however, the Granotes (the frogs) are in danger of relegation again. In the first leg against Athletic Bilbao (final score: 0-0), the team from the Spanish east coast took over the red lantern for the first time. In the meantime, Levante have been in 20th place in the table for the past 13 match days.
Seven points out of a possible nine from the last three games
At first it looked as if the change of coach in December had not brought anything. In the meantime, however, Alessio Lisci has breathed new life into the team. After only four points from the first eight league games under the Italian, the Valencians recently picked up seven of a possible nine points.
Although the Granotes are still in 20th place, they are actually back within touching distance. With an away win in the Basque Country, Levante could close the gap to the first non-relegation place to four points.
Always scored in eight of their last ten visits to Bilbao
In addition to their strong form, the revitalised defence thanks to winter newcomer Martín Cáceres is also a major point in favour of the eastern Spaniards, who have conceded just one goal in their last three league games. It is true that the Granotes have lost eight of their last ten away games in La Liga.
However, at least away at the San Mamés, the Valencians have always scored in eight of their last league outings. With this in mind, betting on Athletic Bilbao against Levante to score on both sides is also under a good star.
Predicted Levante line-up:
Cárdenas – Son – Cáceres – Duarte – Pier – Miramón – Pepelu – Malsa – Morales – de Frutos – Martí
Last matches played by Levante:
LaLiga
02/25 2022 – Levante 3 – 0 Elche
02/21 2022 – Celta Vigo 1 – 1 Levante
02/16 2022 – Atletico Madrid 0 – 1 Levante
02/13 2022 – Levante 2 – 4 Real Betis
02/04 2022 – Getafe 3 – 0 Levante
Athletic Bilbao – Levante Direct comparison / H2H record
Head to head: 18 – 8 – 7
There have been a total of 33 meetings between the two teams so far and the Basques lead the direct comparison with 18 victories. Most recently, Bilbao have gone unbeaten in eight consecutive competitive matches against Levante (five wins, three draws).
Athletic Bilbao – Levante betting tips
With Athletic Bilbao against Levante, the prediction basically already goes to the Leones, who, however, have only won six of their twelve home games at the San Mamés so far. Also, because the visitors from Valencia have scored in eight of their last ten matches here and recently picked up seven of a possible nine points, while the Basques have lost three of their last four competitive matches, the facts are not as clear-cut as they might seem at first glance.
It makes all the more sense to avoid the three-way system, as the Granotes’ away win, let alone their point win, cannot be ruled out. Accordingly, the bet on both teams scoring is sustainable.
