Athletic Bilbao vs Villarreal Betting Tips

This is a really big game in the race for that crucial 4th place which would bring Champions League football next season. Villarreal are firmly in the box seat currently occupying 4th and holding an 8 point lead on Sevilla and 10 points on Athletic who are currently 6th.

Therefore the Basques will really see this as a must-win game to stay in the hunt and 3 points for them would really open up the race. They’ve lost 3 times against Barcelona over the past few weeks but ignoring games against the outstanding Catalans, they’ve lost just 3 of their last 23 matches in all competitions and have won 7 of their last 9.

2 of those victories were against Villarreal who they beat 4-2 on aggregate in the Copa del Rey and they were 4-0 winners when Villarreal last visited in the league at the end of last season. Athletic have won 5 of their last 7 home games in the league and with Villarreal not quite at their best right now, a home win looks the more likely outcome here and can be backed at 3/4.

Villarreal needed a penalty from Bruno to claim an unconvincing 1-0 home win against Granada last weekend and hadn’t won any of their previous 3 matches. They are still having an excellent season of course but Athletic’s greater need for the win may see them through here as Villarreal will certainly come here content with a point.

Athletic very rarely fail to score at home though and have netted twice or more in 6 of their last 7 home league games. Therefore consider backing a 2-0 home win at 13/2.