Athletic Bilbao vs Girona Prediction: Visitors at risk of falling off title pace

Girona suffered their second defeat of this La Liga campaign last weekend, going down 4-0 at Real Madrid and they’ve now lost home and away to Los Blancos, who have opened up a five-point gap between the two.

Now Girona are hoping to get their surprise title challenge back on track in Monday’s visit to Athletic Bilbao. The hosts are in fantastic form, which is driving their push for silverware and Champions League football.

Team News 

The hosts are waiting on late tests for Oihan Sancet and Gorka Guruzeta who are both doubts. 

As for Girona, they welcome back Yangel Herrera and Daley Blind from suspension, but Yan Couto remains sidelined. The visitors could also be without 14-goals top scorer Artem Dovbyk. 

Match Odds 

In-form Bilbao are unsurprisingly favoured at 19/20 to win this game, with the draw priced at 13/5 and visitors Girona available at 11/4. 

The hosts are 11/4 to score over 2.5 goals against Girona, with their average in home games this season running at a touch above this mark. 

Athletic Bilbao to win @ 19/20 

Girona are enjoying a stellar season, but they head into this contest with one win from their last four outings and this will be a massive test of their ability to bounce back. So far this term, Girona have won just two of their eight meetings with the top seven. 

Athletic Bilbao will be tricky opponents, as they’ve lost just once across their last 20 matches in all competitions. They’ve become incredibly tough to break down, heading into this contest having kept a clean sheet in each of their last four. 

Athletic are also fantastic at San Mames. They’ve got the third-best home record in La Liga - tied with Girona with 29 points from 12 games. The hosts have won eight of their last nine at home, taking the other in extra time against Barcelona.  

They average 2.58 goals per game at San Mames this term too, so it’s hard to oppose this side against a Girona team who just suffered a shaking defeat. 

Athletic Bilbao Half-time/Full-time @ 2/1 

Not only are Athletic Bilbao fantastic going forward at home, they’ve put together some brilliant defensive form. 

With four wins to nil across their last five home league games, the hosts trouble a Girona outfit who are looking a little short on goals all of a sudden. 

The hosts are set to be without their top scorer Artem Dovbyk and they’ve failed to score in each of their last two. Not only do Athletic Bilbao mix defence and attack incredibly well, they also start games intensely. 

Athletic Bilbao have conceded just seven goals in their 24 first halves this season. They’ve also led at the break on seven occasions, so back them to get out in front early against Girona. 

The home side are fantastic value on the half-time/full-time market, while also consider them for a 2-0 victory at 9/1.