Athletic Bilbao v Real Mallorca Prediction: Hosts should be too good

Two of the Copa del Rey semi-finalists face off in La Liga’s Friday night kick-off as top-four chasing Athletic Bilbao host strugglers Real Mallorca.

Both teams cannot afford to take their foot off the gas before their midweek cup semi-finals, with league ambitions also high on the agenda.

Here we pick out the best bets for this La Liga game.

Team news

Athletic Bilbao will be without Alex Berenguer and Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta through injury for this clash and they may choose to rotate from Sunday’s draw with Cadiz.

Real Mallorca’s Pablo Maffeo is set to miss out with a knee problem, while Samu Costa is a doubt after coming off against Real Betis last time out.

Key forward Vedat Muriqi has only featured from the bench in the last three games, with his return from a calf injury being carefully managed, but he could start in this clash.

Match odds

Athletic Bilbao can be backed at 1/2 for the victory, while Real Mallorca are 6/1 outsiders and the draw is available at 3/1.

Over 2.5 goals comes in at 11/10, while both teams to score is priced at 5/4 and it is 9/4 for over 1.5 goals in the first half.

Athletic Bilbao win to nil @ 23/20

Athletic Bilbao have been typically impressive on home soil this season, winning eight and drawing two of their 11 La Liga matches in their own backyard.

They beat Barcelona 4-2 in their last game at San Mames in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.

Ernesto Valverde’s side have been in red-hot form recently, winning seven of their last nine matches in all competitions.

In sharp contrast with that are Real Mallorca, who have won just three of their 22 league games and are among the lowest scorers in the Spanish top flight.

Only Cadiz have netted fewer times than Mallorca’s 19 and they may struggle to get anything out of a solid home team.

The hosts have won to nil in three of their last four home games in the league and only two teams have conceded fewer than their 21 this term.

Against a team struggling to get going in attacking areas, Athletic Bilbao are fancied for another win without conceding.

Inaki Williams to score at any time @ 15/8

Inaki Williams returned from the Africa Cup of Nations to score a crucial goal as Athletic Bilbao beat Barcelona 4-2 in the Copa del Rey and the Ghanaian can find the net again here.

The forward has eight goals in 19 league matches and looks a solid selection to get the better of this Real Mallorca back line.

Football betting tips from Betfred Insights.