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

Sevilla will be looking to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when they continue their 2020-21 campaign away to Athletic Bilbao on Saturday afternoon.

Julen Lopetegui 's side suffered a 1-0 defeat to Eibar in La Liga last weekend to leave themselves in 13th spot in the table, while Athletic lost 1-0 at Osasuna as their inconsistent start continued.

Match preview

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A record of two wins and four defeats from six matches this season has seen Athletic collect six points, leaving them in 16th position in the table, just one point outside of the relegation zone.

Gaizka Garitano 's side picked up an important win at home to Levante on October 18, but they have lost three of their last four in the league, including a 1-0 defeat at Osasuna last weekend.

Worryingly, Athletic have not scored a single goal in their last three defeats, and it could well be a difficult campaign for the club, who finished 11th in Spain's top flight last season.

The eight-time La Liga champions have lost two of their last three league games with Sevilla, meanwhile, including a 2-1 defeat in the corresponding match last term.

The Basque side have plenty of talent in the final third of the field, but Inaki Williams, Iker Muniain and Raul Garcia have only managed one goal between them so far this season.

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Sevilla, meanwhile, are going well in the Champions League this season, following a goalless draw with Chelsea by beating Rennes on Wednesday night to move onto four points in their section.

The Europa League winners have now lost their last two in the league, though, suffering a 1-0 defeat at Granada on October 17 before Eibar recorded a surprise 1-0 success at the Estadio Ramon last weekend.

A record of two wins, one draw and two defeats from five matches has left Sevilla in 13th spot in the table, although they do have two games in hand over a lot of the teams around them.

The matches are coming thick and fast for Lopetegui's side at the moment as they are back in Champions League action at home to Krasnodar on November 4 before hosting Osasuna in the league on November 7.

It would be fair to say that Sevilla are yet to seriously ignite their league campaign, but Los Nervionenses will be determined to collect all three points this weekend.

Athletic Bilbao La Liga form: LWLLWL

Sevilla La Liga form: WWDLL

Sevilla form (all competitions): WDLDLW

Team News

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Bilbao again have doubts over the fitness of Kenan Kodro, Oscar de Marcos and Ibai Gomez, but the Basque side did not pick up any fresh concerns against Osasuna last weekend.

There is expected to be a change at left-back with Yuri Berchiche set to replace Mikel Balenziaga, but Garitano could otherwise stick with the same side that featured in Pamplona.

As mentioned, Williams, Muniain and Raul Garcia have struggled for goals this season, but the trio should continue in the final third of the field, while Alex Berenguer is expected to retain his spot.

As for Sevilla, Lopetegui is expected to make changes from the side that overcame Rennes in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Ivan Rakitic and Nemanja Gudelj both came off the bench against the French club and could now earn spots in the XI, with Fernando and Oliver Torres potentially dropping out.

Franco Vazquez is also pushing for a place in the final third of the field, although Lucas Ocampos and Luuk de Jong should both keep their positions in attack. Jules Kounde is also available after recovering from coronavirus, while Joan Jordan served a one-game domestic suspension against Eibar and will return.

Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:

Simon; Capa, Yeray, Martinez, Yuri; D Garcia, Lopez; Muniain, R Garcia, Berenguer; Williams

Sevilla possible starting lineup:

Bounou; Navas, Kounde, Carlos, Acuna; Gudelj, Rakitic, Jordan; Ocampos, L de Jong, Munir

We say: Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Sevilla

Sevilla will be desperate to return to winning ways in La Liga, and we can see Lopetegui's side triumphing this weekend. Bilbao have so much talent, but the Basque outfit have struggled for form this season, and we are expecting Garitano's side to suffer another disappointing result here.

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