Preview: Athletic Bilbao vs. Girona - prediction, team news, lineups

The home side, who are seventh in the table, will enter the contest off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid, while 11th-placed Girona recorded a 6-2 victory over Almeria last time out.

Match preview

Athletic have won nine, drawn five and lost eight of their 22 league matches this season to collect 32 points, which has left them in seventh position in the table, two points behind sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano.

The Basque outfit are very much in the mix for a top-six finish at this stage of the campaign, but they will need to find some consistency in the coming weeks in order to claim a European spot.

Athletic have been victorious in two of their last three league matches, overcoming Cadiz and Valencia on February 3 and February 11 respectively, but they will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 loss to Atletico.

Ernesto Valverde's side have the fourth-best home record in Spain's top flight this season, picking up 20 points from 11 matches, and they will be welcoming a Girona outfit that have only collected six points on their travels.

The Lions have finished 16th, eighth, 11th, 10th and eighth in their last five campaigns at this level of football, with their last top-seven finish coming in 2016-17.

Athletic are still chasing silverware this season, meanwhile, with the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final with Osasuna set for March 1.

Girona, meanwhile, will enter the contest off the back of a 6-2 win over Almeria last Friday, with six different players on the scoresheet for the hosts in the hugely impressive success.

Michel's side are currently 11th in the table, boasting 27 points from their opening 22 matches of the campaign, which has left them five points clear of the relegation zone heading into the next set of fixtures.

Girona secured a return to Spain's top flight through last term's Segunda Division playoffs, and there have been plenty of signs of encouragement this season in terms of their battle to avoid the drop.

The White and Reds have actually now won two of their last three matches, having also overcome Valencia at home on February 5, but as mentioned, it has been a struggle for them on their travels, winning just one of their 10 games away from their own supporters.

Girona beat Athletic 2-1 in the reverse match earlier this season, but Athletic ran out 1-0 winners when the two teams last locked horns at San Mames in Spain's top flight in December 2018.

Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:

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Athletic Bilbao form (all competitions):

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Girona La Liga form:

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Team News

Athletic will be missing Dani Vivian this weekend through suspension, with the centre-back picking up a yellow card in the clash with Atletico last time out.

Ander Herrera remains out with a muscular problem, while the match might come too soon for Inigo Martinez despite the centre-back making progress in his recovery from a troublesome foot issue.

Aitor Paredes could be pressed into action in the middle of the defence, but it is otherwise expected to be the same side that featured from the start against Atletico.

Julen Agirrezabala started between the sticks over Spain's number one Unai Simon last time out, and the 22-year-old is expected to keep hold of the gloves on Sunday afternoon.

Girona, meanwhile, will be able to welcome Miguel Gutierrez back into their starting side here, with the 21-year-old available again after serving a suspension against Almeria.

The team's injury situation is unchanged, though, with Yangel Herrera, Valery Fernandez, Yan Couto and Ibrahima Kebe on the sidelines.

The bulk of the XI that took to the field for the first whistle against Almeria should again start here, with Cristhian Stuani and Ivan Martin set to be named on the bench despite both scoring last time out.

Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:

Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Paredes, Yeray, Yuri; D Garcia, Vesga; N Williams, Sancet, Muniain; I Williams

Girona possible starting lineup:

Gazzaniga; A Martinez, Bueno, Juanpe, Gutierrez; Tsygankov, Romeu, A Garcia, Riquelme; B Garcia, Castellanos

We say: Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Girona

Girona deserve a lot of respect for their performance level in La Liga this season, but we are finding it difficult to back the visitors to pick up a positive result here. Michel's team are not strong travellers, while Athletic have been impressive at home this season, so we are backing a victory for Valverde's side.

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