Hi guys! Welcome back to the game. Hope you are well-rested and prepared to increase your budgets in the upcoming period! The first bet from me, for you, in the Year of the Tiger is a simple home win in Spain 1, Atheltic Bilbao. 

When we take up look at the standings, we clearly see that Atheltic are battling for top6 positions, which would give them European club football next season. With 21-17 goal difference after 22 matches, we can also see two things - A.Bilbao are the second-best defense in the league after Sevilla!, but also their attack isn't scoring much. However, their attack recently improved in the last 3-4 months, and results improved too! This will be also a so waited for a home game for local fans as their team was been played last 3 matches in La Liga on the road. The recent results and the recent form counting the Spanish Cup matches are just great in Bilbao and their coach Marcelino could prepare this game with peaceful minds. 

Espanyol are not the team for top6 positions, at least they do not have intentions to get into that fight despite the good first part of the season. In the second part of the season, they obviously fall down if we judge on the January month (without a win in the last 4 matches). They rather aim to secure survival and league and peacefully promote some of the key players which will be sold in the summer transfer market. Therefore, Espanyol will need some easier games to get back on the winning track, not in this one. Also, Espanyol will travel to this game without a suspended key player, attacker Raul de Tomas who scored 12 goals in 21 matches. Absolutely big missing for such a midtable team. 


Bilbao have a 1.3 goals average at home this season while Espanyol scores 0.91 goals. When it comes to xG (expected goals ratio) it's a 1.61 Bilbao vs 1.40 Espanyol. However, the recent away form of Espanyol is encouraging for our bet as Espanyol lost the previous 3 games in La Liga on the road. The odds are already set well by the bookmakers, still, the feeling and smell of the win is definitely on a home side today. This is a genuine chance for hosts to come close to Europan positions. Predicting a 2-0 or 1-0 victory today.