- 1 Alaves – Athletic Bilbao: a Basque derby with very different stakes
- 2 Alaves face the Lions’ challenge
- 3 Athletic Bilbao are chasing Europe
- 4 Likely line-ups
- 5 Football Prediction Alaves vs Athletic Bilbao
- 6 First, a word on our predictions
- 7 No commitment from us
- 8 Information changes fast
- 9 Your role
- 10 Responsible gambling first
- 11 Legal age
- 12 About the visuals
Alaves – Athletic Bilbao: a Basque derby with very different stakes 
Mendizorrotza is set for a bruising derby on Saturday. Alaves host their neighbours Athletic Bilbao in a clash that matters plenty to both sides. For Alaves, every point is gold in the scrap for survival, while Bilbao’s Lions are still clinging to hopes of a place in Europe. Expect a cracking atmosphere for a game where Alaves will have to stand up to the visitors’ firepower. It is a tough ask for the hosts against a side chasing the upper reaches of the table.
Alaves face the Lions’ challenge 
Alaves have shown real fight lately despite the pressure. With just one defeat in their last six outings, they arrive with some momentum. Quique Sanchez Flores has given the group a bit of backbone, but this weekend they are missing some key men. Suspensions for Jonny Otto, Nahuel Tenaglia and Antonio Blanco leave serious holes in the defensive structure. Alaves will have to reshuffle to deal with the visitors’ attacks. Their biggest strength has been their home record, but they know Bilbao have not lost at Mendizorrotza since 2020. Lucas Boye is out injured, so Toni Martinez will need support, and Alaves will need something close to a collective masterclass. Every mistake will be punished by the Williams brothers. The staff are banking on physical intensity to make up for the technical gap. The aim is simple: do not get swallowed by the Lions’ pressure. The home crowd will need to play its part and drag the team through it. Alaves have already shown they can spring a surprise, but this return fixture comes with a threadbare squad. They will need a heroic display if they are to get anything out of it.
Athletic Bilbao are chasing Europe 
Tenth in the table, Athletic Bilbao cannot afford many more slip-ups if they want to land a European place. Ernesto Valverde gets Mikel Jauregizar back, a vital return to help run the show for the Lions. With Nico and Inaki Williams out wide, Bilbao have enough pace and power to trouble almost any defence, especially one stripped of several regular starters like Alaves. Historically, Athletic travel well to their neighbours and they will see this derby as a chance to kick-start their push. Their technical edge and deeper squad should allow the visitors to control the tempo.
Likely line-ups
Alaves : Sivera ; Perez, Pica, Parada, Enriquez ; Ibanez, Guevara ; Rebbach, Guridi, Calebe ; Martinez
Athletic Bilbao : Simon ; Gorosabel, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche ; Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar ; I Williams, Berenguer, N Williams ; Guruzeta
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Football Prediction Alaves vs Athletic Bilbao
Bilbao to win
Athletic Bilbao have a prime chance to get their European push back on track. Against an Alaves side badly weakened by the suspensions of three regular defenders (Tenaglia, Jonny and Blanco) and Boye’s injury, the Lions should be able to flex their attacking muscle.
The pace of the Williams brothers could cause all sorts of trouble for a makeshift home defence. Even with Mendizorrotza behind them, Bilbao’s technical quality and their strong record at this ground point firmly towards a Valverde victory.
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