Athletic Bilbaovs.Mallorca

The Basque outfit were beaten 1-0 by Atletico Madrid in La Liga last weekend before going down 2-1 to Roma in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 clash on Thursday night, while Mallorca will enter this game off the back of a 1-1 draw with Alaves in Spain's top flight.

Match preview

It has been a damaging last week for Athletic, with the team's long unbeaten run in La Liga coming to an end against Atletico on March 1, before suffering a 2-1 loss to Roma in the Europa League last time out.

The Lions are still in a relatively good position ahead of the return fixture at San Mames next week, but they are not comfortable when it comes to fourth spot in the La Liga table, sitting four points ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal, who have a game in hand.

Athletic had been unbeaten in La Liga since early October heading into their game with Atletico, but a second-half effort from Julian Alvarez decided the match, and Ernesto Valverde's side will now be looking over their shoulders.

That being said, it has still been a terrific league season up to this point, picking up 48 points to sit in fourth, only six points behind third-placed Real Madrid, while they are in pole position to secure Champions League football for next term.

Athletic have the third-best home record in La Liga during the 2024-25 campaign, picking up 28 points from their 13 matches, but Mallorca have managed to win five of their 12 away league fixtures this season.

Mallorca will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Alaves, which stretched their unbeaten run in La Liga to four matches, but they have only managed to win once during that period.

Jagoba Arrasate's side are firmly in the mix when it comes to a potential European spot for next season, sitting eighth in the table, two points behind sixth-placed Real Betis on the same number of matches (26).

The Pirates have struggled for goals this season, only managing 25 in La Liga, but they have been relatively solid defensively, conceding only 32, which is just seven more than both Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Mallorca finished 15th in Spain's top flight last term but are on course for a huge improvement this term, and as mentioned, they have managed to win five of their 12 away league fixtures during the 2024-25 campaign.

Four of the last five La Liga matches between these two sides have finished level, including a 0-0 earlier this season, but Athletic were 4-0 winners in the corresponding game between the teams last term.

Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:

D

D

W

D

W

L

Athletic Bilbao form (all competitions):

D

W

D

W

L

L

Mallorca La Liga form:

L

L

D

W

D

D

Team News

Athletic will be without the services of Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta due to suspension on Sunday, while Dani Vivian picked up an injury in the early stages of Thursday's clash with Roma in the Europa League.

As a result, there will have to be at least two changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against the Italian side.

Aitor Paredes is expected to be introduced at the back, while Benat Prados is likely to feature in central midfield, but there could be a further two changes in attack, with Alex Berenguer and fit-again Oihan Sancet also potentially being introduced.

As for Mallorca, Johan Mojica is available following a suspension and expected to return to the XI, but a hamstring issue has made Robert Navarro a fitness doubt on Sunday.

Should Navarro fail to make it, then it is likely that Samu Costa will be introduced into the side, but Cyle Larin might have to accept a spot on the bench once again, with Dani Rodriguez set for a spot through the middle.

Takuma Asano scored his first goal for Mallorca in the draw with Alaves last time out, and there should again be a position in the starting side for the experienced attacker.

Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:

Simon; Gorosabel, Paredes, Yeray, Yuri; Prados, Jauregizar; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Berenguer

Mallorca possible starting lineup:

Greif; Maffeo, Valjent, Raillo, Mojica; Asano, Mascarell, Darder, Costa; Muriqi, D Rodriguez

We say: Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Mallorca

Three of the last five La Liga matches between these two sides have finished 0-0, and we are expecting it to be a tight affair on Sunday; another draw cannot be ruled out, but we just have a feeling that Athletic will be able to navigate their way to an important three points.

Written by

Matt Law

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