Las Palmas vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction: Points to be shared in Gran Canaria

Eighth-placed Las Palmas will look to put a dent in Athletic Bilbao's top-four hopes when the two teams meet in La Liga at the Estadio de Gran Canaria on Sunday (15:15). 

The hosts may still hold hopes of catching their opponents in the standings but it would take an almighty collapse from Bilbao to achieve as there are 13 points separating the two teams in the table. Both teams have been hard to beat of late, though, with Las Palmas losing just one of their last five games, while Bilbao have slipped up just once in nine, and there's a realistic chance that these two teams cancel each other out. 

Match Odds 

Despite having home advantage, Las Palmas are 11/4 outsiders to land the spoils this weekend. The draw is on offer at 9/4, while Bilbao are odds-against favourites at 21/20. 

Those who expect a high-scoring game can back over 2.5 goals at 6/5, while both teams to score is available at 10/11. 

Bilbao forward Gorka Guruzeta is the favourite to score at anytime at 2/1, while he is 5/1 to net the opening goal. 

Team News 

Las Palmas boss Garcia Pimienta will once again be without the services of Cristian Herrera and Eric Curbelo due to injury. 

However, he will welcome back Alex Suarez from suspension. Suarez should return at right-back, but Pimienta is expected to make minimal changes to the team that drew 3-3 at Getafe last time out. 

Bilbao duo Ander Herrera and Yuri Berchiche remain in the treatment room, but both Nico Williams and Dani Vivian will return, having missed the 0-0 draw with Barcelona due to suspension. 

Draw @ 9/4 

This contest looks like a tight battle between two teams that have been hard to beat. 

Only Atletico Madrid have beaten Las Palmas since the start of February, although that was a 5-0 thumping in the Spanish capital. 

Los Amarillos have drawn with Granada, Osasuna, and Getafe in recent weeks, while their only win came against Valencia on home soil, where they ran out 2-0 winners. 

Las Palmas have been especially difficult to beat at home, losing only three league games in front of their own fans this season, and two of those defeats came at the hands of Barcelona and Real Madrid, losing 2-1 in both of those fixtures. 

Bilbao have only lost one in nine in all competitions, and only four teams have got the better of them on their travels. With Sunday's game featuring two stubborn outfits, the draw looks a worthwhile play. 

Under 2.5 goals @ 8/13 

Despite their relative success and standing in the table, Las Palmas have only scored 29 goals this season in La Liga. 

That is the lowest total in the top 12, but by the same token, they have also only conceded 29 league goals this year, the joint-fourth best defensive record in the top flight. 

One side that betters Pimienta's troops is Bilbao, who have only conceded 26 goals all season in the Spanish top-flight, with only Real Madrid having let in fewer. 

The first meeting ended 1-0 to Bilbao, but the visitors have found goals hard to come by on the road, scoring in just two of their last five away matches.  

This has all the hallmarks of a low-scoring fixture, with two of the best defences in the league desperate not to lose.