La Liga matchday 24 clash between Real Oviedo and Athletic Club Bilbao will take place on 15 February at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere. Real Oviedo vs Athletic Club Bilbao: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Real Oviedo
The match in the previous round against Rayo Vallecano was postponed, so the club have had a short two-week break from competitive action. In their most recent outing, Real Oviedo earned a hugely important win over Girona (1:0). As a result, the home side brought to an end a bleak winless run which had stretched to 14 league matches (7 wins, 7 draws). Just as importantly, the hosts have cut the gap to safety in 17th place to seven points. It is also worth noting that the club still have the lowest scoring record in the top flight — since the start of the current season, the team have netted just 12 goals.
- At least one team failed to score in 9 of the Asturians' previous 12 La Liga games.
- Real Oviedo won with a (+1.5) handicap in 5 of their last 6 matches in this tournament.
- No more than two goals have been scored in eight of the club's home league fixtures.
Potential Real Oviedo Lineup (4-2-3-1)*
Aaron Escandell – Javi Lopez, David Costas, David Carmo, Nacho Vidal – Santiago Colombatto, Kwasi Sibo – Haissem Hassan, Ilyas Chaira, Alberto Reina – Federico Vinas.
First-choice defender David Costas is unavailable due to injury.
Athletic Club Bilbao
The Basque side have also halted an unpleasant winless run in La Liga. Last weekend, the away team beat Levante (4:2), securing their first victory in seven matches in this competition. Prior to that, Athletic Club Bilbao endured their worst spell of the current campaign, collecting just two points from their last six league fixtures. After the previous game, the club improved their league position — the visitors are now 10th in the standings, and the gap to the European places is six points. However, they are also only six points clear of 18th spot.
- At least two goals have been scored in Athletic Club Bilbao's last seven La Liga matches.
- Both teams have scored in each of the Basques' previous six games in this tournament.
- The club have conceded at least two goals in 5 of their last 7 away La Liga matches.
Potential Athletic Club Bilbao Lineup (4-2-3-1)*
Unai Simon – Andoni Gorosabel, Aitor Paredes, Emeric Laporte, Yuri Berchiche – Mikel Jauregizar, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta – Nico Williams, Nico Serrano, Gorka Guruzeta – Inaki Williams.
Due to injuries, defenders Dani Vivian and Unai Egiluz, midfielders Oihan Sancet and Benat Prados, as well as forwards Alex Berenguer and Maroan Sannadi will not be available.
Real Oviedo vs Athletic Club Bilbao: Match Prediction
Real Oviedo remain bottom of the table, but they are gradually improving a difficult league situation. In their last La Liga match, the home side claimed a hugely important win — their first since 30 September. Across the last six league fixtures, the hosts have suffered only two defeats, and both of those came away from home. On their own patch, the club have now gone six straight top-flight matches without losing (1 win, 5 draws).
Athletic Club Bilbao have also ended a long winless run in La Liga, but it is important to point out that it happened at home. Trips away from Bilbao have traditionally proven extremely difficult for the team. In their ten previous away league matches, the Basques collected three points only in the game against Levante (2:0); in the other fixtures, the club recorded two draws and seven defeats. Ahead of their trip to Oviedo, Athletic Club Bilbao had failed to win four consecutive away La Liga matches.
The freshness factor could also influence the outcome of this head-to-head. Real Oviedo have had a two-week break without matches, while Athletic Club Bilbao have been playing every three to four days for a full month.
Prediction: Real Oviedo, double chance
* For each team, the starting XI from their previous match in this tournament is listed.
