Preview: Athletic Bilbao vs. Elfsborg – prediction, team news, lineups

Sporty Bilbao will look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season Europa League campaign if you are welcome Elfsborg to San Mames on Thursday.

The hosts are sits in sixth place at halftime of the league phase, while the guests are in 24th place after the first four matchdays.

Game preview

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Athletic are competing in Europe for the first time since 2017/18 and are dreaming of reaching the Europa League this season. The final in May will take place at the legendary home stadium of San Mames.

Athletic have made a positive start to their bid to win a European Cup at home after picking up ten points from their first four games.

After a 1-1 draw against Roma, Los Leones went on to record victories over AZ Alkmaar, Slavia Prague and Ludogorets, leaving them in the top eight and just two points behind league leaders Lazio.

Los Leones will take significant momentum into matchday five after extending their unbeaten run to seven competitive games with a narrow 1-0 win over Basque rivals Real Sociedad at the weekend Oihan SancetThe first half performance was enough to ensure Athletic finished the weekend in fifth place, two points off the top four.

Athletic continue to use San Mames as a fortress, having lost just one of their last 31 competitive games in all competitions.

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Elfsborg are just outside the top 24 after winning one game, drawing one and losing two of their four games in the first phase of the league.

The Swedish side suffered narrow defeats against AZ Alkmaar and Galatasaray after securing a 1-0 home win over Roma before salvaging a point in their final European game against Braga.

Emil Holten In the 1-1 draw in Sweden, he scored the equalizer in the 84th minute, helping his team to a run of four games unbeaten across all competitions.

After ending their league campaign with a goalless draw against Varnamo, Elfsborg now face the difficult task of staying fit and fit for their next four Europa League games as they attempt to advance from a European group/league stage for the first time to move forward.

If Elfsborg want to cause problems for a strong Athletic team, they will need to improve defensively after conceding seven goals in their last two Europa League games.

Athletic Bilbao Europa League form:

Athletic Bilbao form (all competitions):

Elfsborg Europa League form:

Elfsborg form (all competitions):

Team news

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Sporty boss Ernesto Valverde Should there be no new injury concerns following Sunday’s derby win, there should be a full squad to choose from.

goalkeeper Unai Simon He returned to the matchday squad at the weekend after a long injury layoff, but after being on the bench against Real Sociedad, the Spain international could now get the chance to make his first appearance of the season.

Valverde might be tempted to refresh his field contingent Andoni Gorosabel, Aitor Paredes, Alex Berenguer And Gorka Guruzeta Everyone is pushing for starting places.

As for the visitors, they don’t have experienced strikers to rely on Per Frickwho missed the last five competitive games due to injury.

Elfsborg boss Oscar Hiljemark will probably play with a back three Sebastian Holmen, Ibrahim Buhari And Terry Yegbe.

Michael Baidoo He is expected to be the spearhead of the Elfsborg attack. The striker is looking to add to the five goals he has scored in eight European games this season.

Possible Athletic Bilbao starting lineup:
Simon; Gorosabel, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Prados; I. Williams, Berenguer, N. Williams; Guruzeta

Elfsborg possible starting lineup:
Pettersson; Holmen, Buhari, Yegbe; Hedlund, Ouma, Baldursson, Hult; Zeneli, Qasem, Baidoo

We say: Athletic Bilbao 3:1 Elfsborg

Elfsborg have failed to take anything from their last two European away games and we reckon they could suffer another away defeat when they face an Athletic side who have won four of their last five home games in all competitions.

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