Athletic Bilbao – Real Betis: a clash of styles in San Mamés 
This Sunday night the feverish San Mamés will host one of the more intriguing fixtures in the league. Athletic Bilbao (10th), desperate to win back their crowd, take on Real Betis (5th), a Seville side full of confidence and eyeing the top end of the table.
Sour faces in the Basque Country 
It’s been a proper mess for the Lions. Champions League hopes sank and the league form is treading water. They’ve lost three on the spin in all competitions — defeats to Barça, Girona and a bitter Copa del Rey exit to Real Sociedad — and morale is shot. They’re not flirting with relegation, but they’re a staggering 20 points off the top four.
To rub salt in the wound, coach Ernesto Valverde has announced he’ll walk away at the end of the season (with old boy Andoni Iraola tipped to return). In front of their own fans the home side have no choice: they must grit their teeth, take the game to the opposition and score if they want to give their boss at least a decent send-off.
Betis are hungry 
At the other end it’s pure buzz. Manuel Pellegrini’s men just booked their Europa League quarter-final spot with a 4-0 thumping of Panathinaikos. Sitting firm in fifth, the Seville side look calm and dangerous.
Their standout trait this season? Away form. Betis travel well and rarely crumble — just three away defeats so far. They’ll soak pressure, then strike fast on the break. Up against a shaky Bilbao backline, the visitors will smell another road job and won’t be shy about nicking one.
Probable lineups
Athletic Bilbao : Simon ; Gorosabel, Vivian, Laporte, Berchiche ; Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar ; Navarro, Sancet, Berenguer ; I Williams
Real Betis : Valles ; Bellerin, Bartra, Natan, Rodriguez ; Antony, Fornals, Roca, Ezzalzouli ; Ruibal, Hernandez
Football tip Athletic Bilbao vs Real Betis
Over 2.5 goals
Even if Betis might feel the legs after Thursday’s European game, this one should be wide open. Bilbao are up against it at home and have to react — that’ll force them to attack from the off.
Betis, meanwhile, are in good attacking nick and will find space behind the Basque defence. With the hosts forced to open up and the visitors deadly on the counter, expect a loose, end-to-end affair and the ball to hit the net several times.
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