Las Palmas vs Athletic Bilbao Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Spanish Primera
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Down in the Canary Islands this weekend, Las Palmas will be looking to kick on after a few good performances in the opening month of the campaign as they welcome what should be a strong Athletic side.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 15th September, 2024 - UK – 5:30pm / US ET – 11:30am / US PT – 8:30am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Las Palmas vs Athletic Bilbao may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
LAS PALMAS PREVIEW: ‘THE BRAZILIANS OF SPANISH FOOTBALL’
Nicknamed the ‘Brazilians of Spanish football’ mainly because of their yellow kit but also because of a reputation of attacking football, Las Palmas carried that out under Garcia Pimienta before he departed for Sevilla in the summer and now it is the task of another La Masia graduate, Luis Carrion, to do the same.
They have put in some good performances this season and will be frustrated to have only taken two points from tough home games against Sevilla and then Real Madrid. Either side of those games, their frustration will have grown due to defeats against newly-promoted Leganes as well as Deportivo Alaves.
ATHLETIC BILBAO PREVIEW: FINDING FORM
After an exciting 2023/24 season under former Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde in which Athletic Club won their first trophy in 40 years and also finished fifth in La Liga, the Basque giants went into this season with a lot of hope and expectation, especially after key man Nico Williams shot to worldwide fame with magnificent performances at UEFA EURO 2024.
They have started this season, though, quite slowly with just one victory in four matches before the September international break. They started the campaign by being held to a 1-1 draw by Getafe before then losing at Barcelona and a defeat at home to Atletico Madrid before the break sandwiched a slender victory against struggling Valencia at San Mames.
LAS PALMAS TEAM NEWS: STILL NO JANUZAJ
The attacking 4-1-4-1 or 4-5-1 shape deployed by Garcia Pimienta is one that Luis Carrion has changed to support a front two of Sandro Ramirez and Oli McBurnie.
Las Palmas are lacking a creative spark and they remain without two attacking players for this one due to injuries to Alberto Moleiro as well as new signing Adnan Januzaj.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Cillessen; Viti, Alex Suarez, McKenna, Mika Marmol; Jaime Mata, Javi Munoz, Jose Campana, Kirian Rodriguez; Sandro Ramirez, McBurnie
UNAVAILABLE: Alberto Moleiro (Injured), Januzaj (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ATHLETIC BILBAO TEAM NEWS: UNAI SIMON STILL OUT
Athletic Club have been dealing with several key injuries and they remain without Spain number one Unai Simon as well as key central midfielder Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta.
Nico Williams, who starred in Spain’s UEFA EURO 2024 triumph, has had a slow start to the season and his freshness may not yet be there after starting both games for La Roja last week.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Julen Aguirrezabala; Inigo Lekue, Dani Vivian, Yeray Alvarez, Andoni Gorosabel; Ander Herrera, Benat Prados; Inaki Williams, Oihan Sancet, Nico Williams; Gorka Guruzeta
UNAVAILABLE: Unai Simon (Injured), Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta (Injured), Yuri Berchiche (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
LAS PALMAS VS ATHLETIC BILBAO PREDICTION
Las Palmas, as mentioned, are playing on the home advantage of dragging teams from the mainland all the way down to the Canaries but they have not yet fully taken advantage of it. They will still try to play quite a fluent style of football but there is a chance that may suit the likes of Nico Williams, Oihan Sancet and Inaki Williams on the counter-attack. Given that, backing Athletic may well be the way to go for this one.
LAS PALMAS VS ATHLETIC BILBAO TIP: ATHLETIC CLUB TO WIN
