Athletic Bilbao will be eager to extend the good run of results and further close the gap behind European positions following a dismal start to the league campaign.

Meanwhile, Espanyol have suffered a serious dip in form and they will want to end the barren run with a good performance at San Mames.

Athletic Bilbao needed quite a while to recover from the disappointing start of the season, but this has already cost them a place in the Champions League knockout stages and quite possibly, with even third-place finish in their group now looking unlikely.

Los Leones have also dropped too many points in the league, but once their European campaign ends they will have enough time to make things right.

The good news is Athletic have finally started showing improvement in La Liga, with back to back wins over Almeria and Sevilla followed by the credible goalless draw at Mestalla.

Very good performances against two in-form sides proved los Leones have enough quality to mount a serious top 4 challenge, although it is important to note they currently sit no less than 11 points behind Champions League positions.

But, with the players restoring some of the lost confidence, Athletic look a good bet at 1.80 (4/5) to defeat struggling Espanyol.

Ernesto Valverde is hoping both Aritz Aduriz and Andoni Iraola will recover in time to face Espanyol, but Guillermo Fernandez is definitely out.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Iraizoz – Iraola, Etxeita, Laporte, Balenziaga – Mikel Rico, Iturraspe – Ibai, Benat, Muniain – Aduriz.

Espanyol still haven’t managed to hit the ground running, winning just two of first eleven fixtures, and los Periquitos could soon find themselves in the danger zone.

The team have struggled for form ever since they defeated Real Sociedad some six weeks ago, and they are winless in last four matches.

While Espanyol could only muster home draws against Deportivo La Coruna and Villarreal, they were beaten on the road by Atletico Madrid and Elche, so they don’t have much to hope for ahead of the drip to San Mames.

Los Periquitos have taken mere two points from last nine away matches in La Liga, and the poor run looks unlikely to end on Friday.

Alvaro Gonzalez returns from suspension, but Paco Montanes is doubtful and Hector Moreno lacks match fitness having just returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Casilla – Javi Lopez, Colotto, A. Gonzalez, Juan Fuentes – Vazquez, V. Sanchez, Canas, V. Alvarez – Caicedo, Garcia.