On Saturday afternoon, Athletic Club and Rayo Vallecano go head-to-head at San Mames.
Athletic Club form guideLos Leones head into this game in decent form, as a 1-1 draw at high-flying Girona last time out means that the boys from Bilbao are unbeaten in their previous five games in all competitions, including four games in La Liga. The draw ended a three-game winning run for Ernesto Valverde’s team, though.
Due to their recent form, Athletic are well positioned to mount a European challenge this season, as they are currently sixth-place in the table, six points adrift of the Champions League spots.
Athletic Club have been strong at San Mames of late in the Spanish top-flight, as they are unbeaten in their last six home league matches.
They have also been prolific in front of goal in the good home run, having scored at least two goals in all six unbeaten league games on home soil.
Rayo Vallecano form guideThe men from Madrid have endured mixed fortunes in La Liga this season, as they currently sit in 10th place in the table, having picked up 19 points from their 14 Liga outings.
Rayo heads into this game on the back of a four-game winless run in the Spanish top flight. However, Francisco’s team has lost just one of their previous ten games in La Liga, with seven of their last nine league matches ending in draws.
The visitors have been difficult to beat on their travels of late, as they are not only unbeaten in four away games but have also suffered defeat in just one of their last seven matches in La Liga.
What am I backing?I don’t think there will be too much between these two teams. However, I believe Athletic will have slightly too much quality for the visitors at San Mames, so I am backing the home victory.
