Spain - Primera Division
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Played
February 4, 2012 5:00 PM GMT
Estadio San Mamés — Bilbao
Referee:‬ David Fernandez Borbalan‎
Attendance:‬ 30000‎
 

La Liga Preview: Athletic Bilbao - Espanyol

Marcelo Bielsa's side could conceivably break into the Champions League places with victory over the Catalan outfit at San Mames

By Karthick Arvinth

More On :  Athletic Bilbao, Espanyol, Athletic Bilbao vs Espanyol
Fernando Llorente, Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal (MARCA)

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ATHLETIC BILBAO


Iraizoz
Iraola, Martinez, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe
Iturraspe, Herrera
Susaeta, De Marcos, Muniain
Llorente
ESPANYOL


Casilla
Galan, Rodriguez, Moreno, Didac
Forlin, Baena
Weiss, Verdu, Romaric
Uche

Athletic Bilbao have a clean bill of health heading into the fifth-versus-sixth clash against Espanyol on Saturday. Oscar de Marcos is available again, after serving a one-match suspension in last weekend's 3-2 win at Rayo Vallecano.

Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino may hand a debut to new signing Kalu Uche, with strikers Walter Pandiani, Sergio Garcia and Alvaro Vasquez all sidelined through injury.

Portuguese forward Rui Fonte (ankle) and midfielder Joan Verdu (flu) are both expected to be fit in time for the trip to Bilbao.


 DID YOU KNOW?
  • Athletic Bilbao could climb to fourth in the league table if they beat Espanyol, provided results elsewhere go their way.
  • The Basque club are on a five-game winning streak at San Mames in all competitions, outscoring their opponents 12-1 in those matches.
  • Built in 1913, Athletic's San Mames stadium, which is also known by the nickname "The Cathedral", is the oldest stadium in Spain.
  • Espanyol have won four of their last six encounters with Athletic Bilbao, although none of those victories came at San Mames.
  • The Catalan club have won just one of their last eight away games in all competitions.
  • Alvaro Vasquez (pictured) is Espanyol's leading scorer this season with eight goals.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Espanyol
    18.42 %
  • Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Espanyol
    17.11 %
  • Athletic Bilbao 3-1 Espanyol
    13.16 %
Head to Head
Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Feb 4, 2012 Athletic Bilbao 3 - Espanyol 3
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Sep 11, 2011 Espanyol 2 - Athletic Bilbao 1
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ May 2, 2011 Espanyol 2 - Athletic Bilbao 1
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Dec 12, 2010 Athletic Bilbao 2 - Espanyol 1
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Jan 30, 2010 Espanyol 1 - Athletic Bilbao 0
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Last Five Matches
Athletic Bilbao
May 13, 2012Levante 3 - Athletic Bilbao 0LIGA
May 9, 2012Atletico Madrid 3 - Athletic Bilbao 0EL
May 5, 2012Athletic Bilbao 0 - Getafe 0LIGA
May 2, 2012Athletic Bilbao 0 - Real Madrid CF 3LIGA
Apr 29, 2012Zaragoza 2 - Athletic Bilbao 0LIGA
Espanyol
May 13, 2012Espanyol 1 - Sevilla 1LIGA
May 5, 2012FC Barcelona 4 - Espanyol 0LIGA
May 1, 2012Granada 2 - Espanyol 1LIGA
Apr 28, 2012Espanyol 0 - Sporting de Gijon 3LIGA
Apr 22, 2012Atletico Madrid 3 - Espanyol 1LIGA
Odds
Returns: Bilbao £17.00 Sportingbet Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets!
Returns: Draw £90.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Espanyol £560.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
1IraizozGoalkeeper
3Jon Aurtenetxe BordeDefender
6Mikel San José DomínguezDefender
15Andoni IraolaDefender
7David LópezMidfielder
8IturraspeMidfielder
17Íñigo PérezMidfielder
24Javi MartínezMidfielder
9Fernando LlorenteStriker
10Óscar De MarcosMidfielder
19MuniainStriker
13Raúl Fernández MateosGoalkeeper
5AmorebietaDefender
23Borja EkizaDefender
14SusaetaMidfielder
21AnderMidfielder
2ToqueroStriker
28IbaiStriker
13Kiko CasillaGoalkeeper
3Raúl RodríguezDefender
15Héctor Alfredo MorenoDefender
18Juan Daniel ForlínDefender
22Dídac VilàDefender
10VerdúMidfielder
11RomaricMidfielder
16Javier López RodríguezDefender
17Vladimir WeissMidfielder
-CoutinhoMidfielder
6Rui FonteStriker
-EdgarGoalkeeper
14GalánDefender
-ZouDefender
7Raúl BaenaMidfielder
30Cristian GómezMidfielder
24Juan Ángel AlbínMidfielder
39Thievy BifoumStriker
-Kalu UcheStriker
Players to Watch
Fernando Llorente
Fernando Llorente
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 9
Games Goals YC RC
32 16 0 0
With five goals in his last two games, the giant forward has hit a rich vein of form and has finally begun to flourish under Bielsa. The 26-year-old is a good bet to extend his goal-scoring streak on Saturday and propel his team toward the Champions League places.
Verdú
Verdú
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
36 5 6 0
A product of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, the Catalan playmaker has endeared himself to Espanyol fans with his wide range of passing and ability to open up defences. Pochettino will want the 28-year-old to chip in with more goals to ease the burden on his injury-hit strike force.
Prediction
Athletic will be in confident mood after their midweek win over Mirandes left them on the verge of a cup final appearance. Espanyol aren't the best of travellers, and with their strike force depleted through injury, could struggle to find the net at San Mames.
Editor's Prediction
Bilbao 1
Espanyol 0
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		50 10
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		46 12
Radamel Falcao Radamel Falcao
Striker
Atl. Madrid 		24 5
Gonzalo Higuaín Gonzalo Higuaín
Striker
Real Madrid 		22 0
Karim Benzema Karim Benzema
Striker
Real Madrid 		21 0