Newcastle vs Athletic Bilbao Predictions

• Athletic Bilbao have lost four of their last five European away games
• Seven of Newcastle’s last nine games have gone over 2.5 goals
• The Magpies have never drawn a home game in the Champions League group stages
• Nick Woltemade has six goals in 12 games for the hosts

Bounce back needed for hosts

Newcastle continued their struggles on the road with a 3-1 loss to West Ham on Sunday and the Magpies will be keen to put such a dismal performance behind them when they host Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League.

Eddie Howe’s side had won five of their last six games before their loss to the Hammers but the nature of that defeat has taken a real shine off their recent form.

Their European performances have been strong, beating Benfica and Union Saint-Gilloise after falling just short against Barcelona, and they were comfortable 2-0 winners over Tottenham in the EFL Cup last week.

With away trips to face Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen and Paris Saint-Germain still to come in the group stages, a home victory in this one will be crucial for the Magpies’ chances of qualifying for the knockout stages.

Visitors struggling

They face an Athletic Bilbao side who are struggling domestically themselves. Ernesto Valverde’s men started the campaign with three wins on the bounce but since then have seen their form drop off a cliff, losing five of their next eight La Liga outings.

They managed a 3-1 win over Qarabag in their last Champions League clash but before that suffered defeats at the hands of Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund.

In total, the Lions have won just two of their last 11 games in all competitions and they need to turn things around if they are to replicate their impressive last two campaigns which saw them win the Copa del Rey and finish in the top four.

They have struggled with injuries and were dealt a hammer blow with key man Inaki Williams going down injured against Qarabag.

Their defence has been the visitors’ primary issue, keeping just two clean sheets in 14 matches.

That could be an issue against a Newcastle side who have netted eight goals in three European games. 

Woltemade the man

Eddie Howe will demand a big response to their weekend defeat and the Magpies are much stronger at home than they are on their travels.

Seven of Newcastle’s last nine games have gone over 2.5 goals and a repeat of that is fancied against a Bilbao side whose three Champions League games have produced 11 goals.

Howe’s men have won 11 of their last 15 home games in all competitions and should be able to bounce back against these Spanish opponents, who were beaten 3-2 by rivals Real Sociedad last time out.

Three of Newcastle’s games at St James’ this season have finished 2-1 and a repeat for the home side is fancied.

Nick Woltemade has been the Magpies’ primary threat, with six goals already this season, and he is taken to add to that tally.