Villarreal vs Athletic Bilbao betting tips: La Liga preview, predictions and odds
Last Updated: April 7, 2022 11:47 am
Foyth, Juan
Coquelin, Francis
Garcia, Dani
Zarraga, Oier
Williams, Nicholas
Sancet, Oihan
Danjuma, Arnaut
Moreno, Gerard
Lo Celso, Giovani
Petxa, Alex
Recommended bets
Draw and under 2.5 goals is 10/3.
Gerard Moreno is 5/1 to break the deadlock and 8/5 to score anytime.
Match preview
BARCELONA, SPAIN – January 25: Unai Núñez #3 of Athletic Bilbao in action during the Espanyol V Athletic Bilbao, La Liga regular season match at RCDE Stadium on January 25th 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Villarreal’s amazing Champions League adventure continues.
El Submarino Amarillo actually finished seventh in La Liga last season, so only qualified for Europe’s top-tier competition by winning the Europa League Final.
Nevertheless, they ousted Atalanta in the group stages before hammering Italian giants Juventus 4-1 on aggregate in the round of 16.
Even so, Unai Emery’s men went into Wednesday’s quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich as massive underdogs.
Despite this, Estadio de la Cerámica erupted just eight minutes in when top scorer Arnaut Danjuma diverted the ball past Manuel Neuer into the corner.
Francis Coquelin thought he’d doubled the host’s lead on the cusp of half time, but his deflected goal was disallowed due to an offside in the build-up.
Bayern pushed for an equaliser in the second half, but could not find one, thereby leaving Eastern Spain 1-0 down.
The German champions are still firm favourites to reach the semi-final, but Villarreal will to travel to Allianz Arena with a lead to defend.
Back in La Liga, there’s no guarantee el Submarino Amarillo will be in any European competition next season.
Last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to then bottom of the table Levante means they’ve lost three of their last four matches, scoring just once in these games.
This leaves them seventh which, if Valencia beat Real Betis in the Copa del Rey Final later this month, would not be enough to get into Europe.
Athletic Club Bilbao meanwhile kick off just one place and one point below their hosts, also firmly in the hunt for Europe.
Marcelino’s men beat Elche 2-1 last weekend with Álex Berenguer and then Asier Villalibre the scorers.
However, this merely continued Athletic’s mixed form; their last seven games have produced three wins, three defeats and one draw.
The Lions are going to need to improve on that if they’re to return to Europe for the first time since 2017/18.
Who will claim three important point at El Madrigal?
Villarreal team news
BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 09: Arnaut Danjuma of Villarreal celebrates his second goal with his team-mate Alberto Moreno (R) during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Atalanta and Villarreal at Gewiss Stadium on December 09, 2021 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)
Unai Emery would love to heavily rotate his XI given that they played Bayern Munich just three days ago and face them again in three days time.
However, given that this is also an important game, he’ll need to find the right balance.
Villarreal could have issues at full-back where, with Alberto Moreno injured, Pervis Estupiñán will keep his place on the left.
Over on the other side, Juan Foyth hobbled off on Wednesday, meaning Serge Aurier is likely to come in, chosen over Rubén Peña.
Mid-week scorer Arnaut Danjuma, Giovanni Lo Celso and Gerard Moreno are very much the first-choice front three.
However, any of Moi Gómez, Samu Chukwueze, Yeremy or Paco Alcácer could be rotated in for this one; Boulaye Dia is injured.
Athletic Bilbao team news
BILBAO, SPAIN – AUGUST 20: Iker Muniain of Athletic Club reacts during the La Liga match between Athletic Club and Getafe at at San Mames Stadium on August 20, 2017 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Athletic Club meanwhile will be hoping their significantly extra rest can make the difference.
Iñaki Williams will continue to lead the line having now feature in 225 successive La Liga games.
Asier Villalibre’s goal last weekend could see him come into the XI, taking Oihan Sancet’s place.
With Yeray Álvarez and Iñigo Martínez out injured, Unai Núñez and Daniel Vivian will continue as the centre-backs.
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FC Barcelona vs Villarreal CF - 0:2
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Villarreal CF vs Real Sociedad San Sebastian - 1:2
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Rayo Vallecano vs Villarreal CF - 1:5
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Villarreal CF vs Sevilla FC - 1:1
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Villarreal CF vs Liverpool FC - 2:3
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Latest match form, last 5 games: |
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Sevilla FC vs Athletic Bilbao - 1:0
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Athletic Bilbao vs CA Osasuna - 2:0
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Granada CF vs Athletic Bilbao - 1:0
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Athletic Bilbao vs Valencia CF - 0:0
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Athletic Bilbao vs Atletico Madrid - 2:0
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| May 22, 2022 | LaLiga 21/22 | FC Barcelona | 0 - 2 | Villarreal CF |
| May 15, 2022 | LaLiga 21/22 | Villarreal CF | 1 - 2 | Real Sociedad San Sebastian |
| May 12, 2022 | LaLiga 21/22 | Rayo Vallecano | 1 - 5 | Villarreal CF |
| May 8, 2022 | LaLiga 21/22 | Villarreal CF | 1 - 1 | Sevilla FC |
| May 3, 2022 | UEFA Champions League 21/22 | Villarreal CF | 2 - 3 | Liverpool FC |
| May 22, 2022 | LaLiga 21/22 | Sevilla FC | 1 - 0 | Athletic Bilbao |
| May 15, 2022 | LaLiga 21/22 | Athletic Bilbao | 2 - 0 | CA Osasuna |
| May 10, 2022 | LaLiga 21/22 | Granada CF | 1 - 0 | Athletic Bilbao |
| May 7, 2022 | LaLiga 21/22 | Athletic Bilbao | 0 - 0 | Valencia CF |
| April 30, 2022 | LaLiga 21/22 | Athletic Bilbao | 2 - 0 | Atletico Madrid |
| Villarreal CF | Athletic Bilbao | |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Matches played | 38 |
| 16 | Matches won | 14 |
| 393 | Goal attempts | 404 |
| 170 | Shots on goal | 154 |
| 141 | Shots off goal | 168 |
| 200 | Corner kicks | 224 |
| 55% | Average ball possession | 48% |
| 82 | Shots blocked | 82 |
| 81 | Cards given | 91 |
| 589 | Free kicks | 575 |
| 87 | Offsides | 84 |
| 4 | Shots on post | 6 |
| 4 | Shots on bar | 6 |
| 53 | Goals by foot | 31 |
| 9 | Goals by head | 9 |
| 63 | Goals scored | 43 |
| 37 | Goals conceded | 36 |
| Villarreal CF | Athletic Bilbao | |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | Matches | 46 |
| 23 | Home Matches | 23 |
| 23 | Away Matches | 23 |
| 62 | Total Goals | 51 |
| 1.35 | Average Goals Scored | 1.11 |
| 17 | Wins | 14 |
| 14 | Losses | 17 |
| 15 | Draws | 15 |
| April 9, 2022 | LaLiga 21/22 | Villarreal CF | 1 - 1 | Athletic Bilbao |
| October 23, 2021 | LaLiga 21/22 | Athletic Bilbao | 2 - 1 | Villarreal CF |
| February 21, 2021 | LaLiga 20/21 | Athletic Bilbao | 1 - 1 | Villarreal CF |
| December 22, 2020 | LaLiga 20/21 | Villarreal CF | 1 - 1 | Athletic Bilbao |
| March 1, 2020 | LaLiga 19/20 | Athletic Bilbao | 1 - 0 | Villarreal CF |
La Liga table:
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CA Osasuna | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Villarreal CF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Rayo Vallecano | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Athletic Bilbao | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Real Sociedad San Sebastian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Valencia CF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | FC Barcelona | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | RC Celta de Vigo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Espanyol Barcelona | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | RCD Mallorca | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Real Valladolid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Real Madrid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Real Betis Seville | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Sevilla FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Atletico Madrid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Getafe CF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Cadiz CF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | UD Almeria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Elche CF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Girona FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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What time is kick off between Villarreal CF vs Athletic Bilbao?
16:30, Saturday 09 April 2022
