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

Meanwhile, Athletic make the trip to Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero looking to strengthen their hold of a top-six spot in the standings.

Match preview

Having been provided with a favourable fixture list on his return to San Mames, Ernesto Valverde would have recognised that Athletic Bilbao had an opportunity to establish themselves towards the top of the table.

Everything went well during the opening three matches, collecting seven points and failing to concede a goal, and it set Los Leones up to accumulate further points at home to Espanyol.

However, despite facing opposition who had been looking for their first win of the season, Athletic went down by a 1-0 scoreline courtesy of Martin Brathwaite's late goal.

Momentum has clearly been lost on the back of that defeat, but Valverde will stress to his squad that they remain capable of moving into the top four given their next three fixtures.

Home clashes with Rayo Vallecano and Almeria are to follow this contest, although Bilbao will not get ahead of themselves with beating Elche their sole priority.

On the back of last season's 13th-placed finish, expectations have risen at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero in their third year back in the top flight.

Nevertheless, Los Franjiverdes have only earned one point from a possible 12, that draw coming at home to Almeira on August 22.

Their only goal of the season came in that fixture, too, despite the visitors playing with 10 men for 58 minutes, and defeats have been posted against Real Betis, Real Sociedad and Villarreal.

With a trip to Camp Nou to come next weekend, Elche are under pressure to get back on track on Sunday, and they will hope that Athletic's disappointment from last weekend carries over into this one.

Elche La Liga form:

Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:

Team News

Gerard Gumbau and Roger Marti are both pushing for a recall to the Elche XI given the manner of last weekend's defeat at Villarreal.

Raul Guti and Lucas Boye appear most likely to drop out of the side, but the defence could remain the same if Pol Lirola does not return from injury.

With Athletic's defeat against Espanyol occurring after alterations had been made, Valverde may be prepared to stick with the same starting lineup.

Veteran forward Raul Garcia is unlikely to be handed his first start of the campaign despite featuring as a substitute in the opening four matches.

Yuri Berchiche would come into contention for a recall if he is able to shake off a foot injury.

Elche possible starting lineup:

Badia; Palacios, Roco, Bigas, Clerc; Morente, Gumbau, Mascarell, Collado; Ponce, Marti

Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:

Simon; Marcos, Vivian, Alvarez, Lekue; Berenguer, Sancet, Vesga, Muniain; I.Williams, N.Williams

We say: Elche 0-1 Athletic Bilbao

With one team scoring just once and another conceding just once, this could be one-way traffic. However, we feel that Elche will remain competitive throughout, even if they may eventually succumb by a narrow scoreline.

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