Athletic Bilbao aim to continue the remarkable run of results as well as edge one step closer to the Copa del Rey semi-finals, whereas Mallorca cannot really fully focus on this competition, seeing they are dangerously close to the La Liga relegation zone.

This is real Athletic!

Excellent coach Marcelo Bielsa may have struggled to get this team playing to their full potential at the start to the season, but los Leones have since hit the ground running and they look unstoppable at the moment. Bielsa’s decision not to deploy a rotation policy despite the hectic schedule helped the team gel more quickly than anyone expected, as a result of which Athletic are doing great on all fronts. Weekend’s 3:0 win over high-flying Levante saw los Leones climb to the fifth place in La Liga standings, meaning they now have a unique chance to fight for the Champions League places. However, that doesn’t mean that Bilbao will sacrifice their Copa del Rey campaign as this is the competition in which the club have always enjoyed success and they are now determined to beat Mallorca and come close to the semi-finals. Athletic enter this match in great spirits after extending their unbeaten run to six games, whereas it is important to note that they haven’t conceded a single goal in last five games. On the other hand, Athletic are a real danger from set-pieces, counter-attacks and build-up play, so I really don’t see how Mallorca are going to stop them from winning this game.

Fernando Amorebieta, who scored the opening goal against Levante, is a doubt with an ankle injury, whereas Igor Martinez and Carlos Gurpegui remain sidelined.

Mallorca in real danger

After escaping the drop by a single point last term, everything suggests that Mallorca could be in for another very difficult season. Los Bermellones brought quite a few new players in the summer, but they were not able to properly compensate for the departures of key players Jonathan De Guzman and Pierre Webo. As a result, Mallorca have been struggling at the start to the season, and they now sit just one point above the bottom three. With La Liga survival obviously the priority, coach Joaquin Caparros could decide to sacrifice this game so as to keep his players fresh for the important game against Rayo Vallecano, but even if he fields the strongest possible line-up, which is highly unlikely, Mallorca will find it hard to match in-form Athletic Bilbao. Having won just one of eight away games in La Liga this season, los Bermellones don’t have much to hope for before the trip to San Mames.

Midfielder Tomas Pina Isla returns from suspension, but Kevin Garcia Martinez is out through injury.

Verdict

Athletic Bilbao are on top of their game at the moment and with Marcelo Bielsa set to field the strongest possible line-up, los Leones have got to be considered favourites at their San Mames. Mallorca, are far from desired form and with La Liga campaign much more important at the moment, they are highly unlikely to give their best in this match.

Our prediction: Athletic Bilbao with – 0.75 Asian handicap

Odds: 1.77 (7/9)

Bookmaker: 188BET