Athletic Club's excellent season continued in midweek with a Copa del Rey win as they are set to head back on the road for the second game in a row as they meet with strugglers Celta Vigo in La Liga at the Estadio de Balaídos.
Bilbao have been fantastic at times this season and they have drastically turned their form around from last campaign.
⚽️@cervi_franco 🔜 #CeltaAthletic pic.twitter.com/ZYNlWNoeT3— RC Celta (@RCCelta) January 27, 2023
⚽️@cervi_franco 🔜 #CeltaAthletic pic.twitter.com/ZYNlWNoeT3
The club met with Valencia in midweek and saw Iker Munian and Nicol Williams score in the first half of a 3-1 win at the Mestalla to set up a last four clash in the Copa del Rey for yet another season.
Mikel Vesga sealed the deal with a penalty 20 minutes from time as well, and they only lost their clean sheet because of an own goal.
Bilbao did lose to Real Madrid at home last time out in La Liga and following on from draws and one more defeat in the league since the World Cup, it does mean they head into this game without a win in La Liga since the finals in Qatar.
They kicked this run off with a 0-0 draw against Real Betis and a 0-0 draw with Osasuna. A 3-1 loss to Real Sociedad came soon after to rocket Bilbao further down the league table and create their worst spell of league form this season.
Ernesto Valverde has still managed to guide his side into eighth this campaign and they sit only behind the top six by two points and have let in just 19 goals from 18 games.
What's more, Valverde's team are adrift of the fourth spot they once sat in by only five points and a dream of getting into the Champions League is far from over.
At the same time, considering they have fought relegation in recent seasons, Bilbao sitting nine points above Celta Vigo in 17th is in itself an achievement for them this campaign.
As for Celta Vigo, they are only above the relegation zone because of goals difference. Their points tally of 17 is the same as Real Valladolid and they have conceded one less goal than them with 28.
The only difference is how Celta Vigo have scored four more goals.
Carlos Carvalhal's side have been better in La Liga than Bilbao, but this is merely because they have met with winless Elche in the league this January and managed to secure a rare three points against them as a result.
Forebet predicts a win for Bilbao and over 2.5 goals.