What will enhance belief instead, is Athletic’s imposing recent home form, as Marcelino’s side are unbeaten in five straight home La Liga contests.
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao may have lost just one of their previous five La Liga outings, yet they still start the round nine points adrift of the top-six meaning they’ll need something just short of a miracle to secure European football for next season. All they can do is keep applying the pressure on the teams above by winning here, although their recent H2H record of just one win in five La Liga clashes versus Celta Vigo won’t inspire much confidence. What will enhance belief instead, is Athletic’s imposing recent home form, as Marcelino’s side are unbeaten in five straight home La Liga contests. That’s the first time they’ve achieved that feat this season, though their susceptibility to concede late on could end that run here, as Athletic have now conceded a goal after the 90th minute in two of their last three home fixtures!
Celta Vigo
Rooted in mid-table and with nothing really to play for, it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that Celta Vigo’s form has tailed off across the last four gameweeks. Perhaps the chance to make a bit of history against their opponents could reignite the fire in their bellies instead, as the visitors could record successive league away wins against Athletic for the first time in La Liga history. Finding some form in front of goal again will be crucial to securing any positive result after Eduardo Coudet’s side have failed to score in five of their last six away league trips. They conceded five of their last six away goals on or after the 60th minute too, highlighting a real fragility defensive-wise the longer the match goes on!
Inaki Williams scored the winner in the reverse, whilst Athletic have won the last three matches in which he’s found the back of the net. Meanwhile, Celta’s Iago Aspas has registered four goal contributions across his last five visits to Athletic. Athletic have averaged more corners per game than any other La Liga side this season (6.19).