Sporting Gijon VS Athletic Bilbao Match Prediction

Sporting Gijon have drawn five of their last six home matches against Athletic Club in all competitions, with this fixture ending in a 1-1 draw when the teams met in a recent friendly. In La Liga last season, Athletic won 2-0 away and 3-0 at home, which might give them the edge for this match. Athletic are undefeated in their last eight against Sporting Gijon in all competitions.

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Sporting Gijon v Athletic Bilbao: Prediction

Athletic Bilbao are strong in the head-to-head record in this fixture and it is hard to see Sporting Gijon overturning that poor run of matches when they go head to head in La Liga on Sunday. Athletic Bilbao have a very strong attack, with Inaki Williams one of the best young players in the league, while Aritz Aduriz will be looking to follow up his stunning run of goalscoring last season.

Sporting Gijon v Athletic Bilbao: Betting Tips

Even at odds of 7/2 there is not a lot of value to be found in betting on Sporting Gijon, especially given how difficult they tend to find life when they come up against Athletic Bilbao. A price of 13/5 appears to fairly reflect the chances of a draw in this match, but the best selection from the match odds market is Athletic Bilbao at 22/23 to win.

However, Sporting Gijon come into this match having won their last three games of the previous season, so they cannot be written off entirely for this game. A close encounter seems to be likely so under 2.5 goals is favoured at a price of 4/6, with Athletic to win 1-0 at 6/1 also appealing.

Sergio Álvarez and Rachid Aït-Atmane are absent through injury for Sporting Gijon in their first match of the season, but new signings such as Fernando Amorebieta and Duje Cop are in line to make their debuts for the club.

However, Sporting Gijon will be without Luis Hernández for this match after the centre-back made the switch to Premier League champions Leicester City at the end of the last season.

Sporting Gijon likely XI:

There will be a familiar look about Athletic Bilbao this season as most of their squad is exactly the same as it was last season, with few major incomings or outgoings over the course of the summer. Raul Garcia misses the first match of the season through suspension, however, while Athletic Bilbao will also be without the injured attacking midfielder Ager Aketxe for the trip to Gijon.

Athletic Bilbao likely XI:

Athletic Bilbao are the favourites here and understandably given the riches they possess in attack, but the first match of the new season is always a tough one to call. Sporting Gijon ended last season with three wins on the bounce but maintaining momentum over a summer break can be tough, so that form should not be taken into account too much here. Athletic Bilbao have a much better team and should win, but they might only be able to squeeze the points by a single goal.

Sporting Gijon have seen under 2.5 goals in five of their previous six home matches against Athletic Bilbao in all competitions.